Tech

Ethiopian activists sue Facebook parent company, Meta, over wartime hate speech

Published

2 years ago

December 15, 2022

Two Ethiopian activists have filed a lawsuit against Facebook’s parent company, Meta, over wartime hate speeches allegedly posted and promoted on the social media platform amid “heated rhetoric over their country’s deadly Tigray conflict.”

The petitioners, a former Amnesty International human rights researcher, Fisseha Tekle, and the son of a University professor, Meareg Amare, who was killed weeks after posts on Facebook inciting violence against him, filed the lawsuit on Wednesday in neighboring Kenya, which is home to the platform’s content moderation operations related to Ethiopia.

In the lawsuit, the petitioners allege, among other things, that “Meta hasn’t hired enough content moderators to moderate hate speeches, that it uses an algorithm that prioritises hateful content and that it acts more slowly to crises in Africa than elsewhere in the world.”

“This legal action is a significant step in holding Meta to account for its harmful business model,” said Mwangovya in a statement where he pointed out that the Facebook posts targeting the late professor were not isolated cases.

The lawsuit which is backed by Kenyan-based legal organisation, the Katiba Institute, seeks the creation of a $1.6 billion fund for victims of hate speech in war-torn Ethiopia.

Facebook spokesman, Ben Walters, when contacted by media outlets to comment on the lawsuit, said he could not comment on the lawsuit because they haven’t received it.

“We have strict rules which outline what is and isn’t allowed on Facebook and Instagram. Hate speech and incitement to violence are against these rules and we invest heavily in teams and technology to help us find and remove this content.

“Facebook continues to develop its capabilities to catch violating content in Ethiopia’s most widely spoken languages,” he said.

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Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

20 hours ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation

Tech

Moroccan retail-tech startup Z raises $1.5m to drive intense growth

Published

4 days ago

December 15, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Morocco-based B2B retail-tech marketplace, ZSystems, has announced closing a $1.5 million seed funding round which will see it carry out its ambitious expansion dreams.

In a statement by co-founder and CEO, Meriem Benabad, the funding round was led by Morocco-based Venture Capital firms, MNF Ventures (through its MNF II fund), Witamax (through Fund II and III), Cash Plus Ventures, and Kalys Ventures.

“This funding marks a pivotal moment for Z, as we aim to scale operations and bring cutting-edge solutions to traditional retail.

“Our vision is to empower small businesses and unlock growth across Morocco and Africa,” Benabad said.

According to Benabad, the newly acquired capital will support Z’s technology development, product catalogue expansion, and preparation for its next growth phase.

“Z is reshaping the retail landscape by integrating technology and innovation across the value chain. Its scalable platform empowers traditional retailers and brands with direct access to consumers, reviving competitiveness in traditional trade (hanouts), which accounts for 85% of the FMCG market,” he added.

Founded in 2022 by the trio of Benabad, Samer Choumar and Youssef Ait-Haddouch, Z’s platform empowers traditional retailers and brands with direct access to consumers, reviving competitiveness in traditional trade (hanouts), which accounts for 85% of the FMCG market.

Since launch, the startup has helped over 15,000 active retailers, and seen more than 800,000 orders placed.