Facebook goes blind on RSS' hate content against Muslims: Whistleblower
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Photograph: Lionel Bonaventure/AFP
Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has revealed that the company knew about anti-Muslim fear-mongering in India but could not take action due to the "lack of Hindi and Bengali classifiers".
She said that the content was being promoted by "Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh users, groups and pages".
"There were a number of dehumanizing posts (on) Muslims… Our lack of Hindu and Bengali classifiers means much of this content is never flagged or actioned, and we have yet to put forth a nomination for designation of this group (RSS) given political sensitivities," her complaint to US securities regulator notes.
Facebook used classifiers for Hindi and Bengali only in early 2021.
"There were a number of dehumanising posts comparing Muslims to 'pigs' and 'dogs' and misinformation claiming the Quran calls for men to rape their female family members," she said, citing a Facebook document.
Documents carrying numerous complaints were uploaded by CBS News.
Haugen has also said that Facebook's products "harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy". She added that nobody was holding Mark Zuckerberg accountable.