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Kenyan High Court to Hear Landmark Case Against Meta Over Ethiopian Conflict

The court ruled it has jurisdiction to proceed with a $2.4 billion lawsuit accusing Meta of amplifying harmful content during Ethiopia's ethnic violence.

The logo of Meta is seen at the entrance of the company's temporary stand ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland January 18, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
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Overview

  • The Kenyan High Court ruled on April 3, 2025, that it has jurisdiction to hear a lawsuit against Meta over its alleged role in amplifying inciteful content during Ethiopia's 2020–2022 conflict.
  • Petitioners, including Abrham Meareg and Fisseha Tekle, accuse Meta of using algorithms that promoted hate speech, leading to violence and human rights violations.
  • The lawsuit seeks $2.4 billion in restitution for victims and demands systemic changes to Meta’s algorithms and increased content moderation in Africa.
  • Meta has denied the allegations, plans to appeal the jurisdictional ruling, and argues that claims against it should be restricted to U.S. courts per its terms of service.
  • The case is seen as a significant step toward holding multinational tech companies accountable for human rights abuses, with support from groups like Amnesty International and The Katiba Institute.