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Is Facebook Undermining Democracy in Africa?

posted by janrinok on Monday May 27 2019, @12:26AM   
from the the-real-fake-news dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

BBC:

Facebook is under fire in Africa for undermining democracy, with critics saying the social media giant has allowed its platform to be weaponised for co-ordinated misinformation campaigns. The role of false news has taken centre stage in every single one of the continent's eight national polls this year - and last week Facebook said an Israel political consultancy was behind much of it.

It banned Archimedes Group, which it said was responsible for a network of those masquerading as African nationals, and removed 265 Facebook and Instagram pages and groups involved in "co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour" mainly targeting Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Niger and Tunisia.

Nanjira Sambuli, from the World Wide Web Foundation, says it has taken Facebook too long to pay attention to this problem in developing countries. "Democracies are at risk on this continent, and unfortunately, social media platforms are fast becoming the sites of aggravation," she told the BBC.

Some feel the continent's weak regulations on privacy and data protection have meant Africa has been used as a "guinea pig" for privacy violations. "We're a training ground. Once it works in Africa, they replicate that and they use it across Africa other geographies," Cameroonian tech entrepreneur Rebecca Enonchong told the BBC.

Betteridge says "No," but my heart says, "Yes!"

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Original Submission

• Re:Facebook isn't the problem. It is the scapegoat Re:Facebook isn't the problem. It is the scapegoat (Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday May 28 2019, @05:11AM (1 child)

  by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Tuesday May 28 2019, @05:11AM (#848417) Journal

  I suspect that we'll move in the other direction (we can keep a premature fetus alive after 22+ weeks or so and will likely push that back as time goes by) first.

  I am much more optimistic, but I agree that the point of viability will continue to be pushed back first. Artificial womb researchers say that is what they are working on rather than a complete cycle. We could see stricter laws without Roe v. Wade being overturned, and abortion opponents ought to fund research to make extremely premature babies viable. However, it looks like they will just bet on a conservative SCOTUS to overturn. It's entirely possible for President Trump to make an additional 1 or even 2 appointments. The Notorious R.B.G. is in the Endgame now.

  What is your stance on these laws [alcohol.org]?

  According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), data collected in 2016 indicates that the following states have legal provisions that may define alcohol use by a pregnant woman as a form of child abuse:

  Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, North Dakota, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin

  --
  [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]

  Parent

  Starting Score:	1		point
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  Total Score:		2

• Re:Facebook isn't the problem. It is the scapegoat (Score: 2) by NotSanguine on Tuesday May 28 2019, @05:51AM

  by NotSanguine (285) <{NotSanguine} {at} {SoylentNews.Org}> on Tuesday May 28 2019, @05:51AM (#848421) Homepage Journal

  What is your stance on these laws [alcohol.org]?

  I already said what I think:

  the idea that some random asshole on the 'net (or in a statehouse) should have any say over what may be the most important personal decisions a woman makes is beyond arrogant.

  --
  No, no, you're not thinking; you're just being logical. --Niels Bohr

  Parent