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Meta Contractor Ignored Threats to Ethiopian Content Moderators by Rebel Group, Court Documents Reveal

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Court documents filed on December 4 reveal that Sama, a contractor for Meta, allegedly dismissed threats made by Ethiopia’s Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) against Facebook content moderators working on graphic and inflammatory posts from the region. The revelations are part of an ongoing legal battle involving 185 former moderators in Kenya, who claim wrongful dismissal after attempting to unionize.

The moderators, who worked for Kenya-based Sama before Meta switched contractors to Majorel, said they were blacklisted from reapplying for roles at Majorel. Some moderators specializing in Ethiopian content reportedly received explicit threats from the OLA for removing the group’s posts.

One moderator, Abdikadir Alio Guyo, stated in his affidavit that he received a message warning him and his colleagues to stop deleting OLA content or face “dire consequences.” Another, Hamza Diba Tubi, reported receiving a message from the rebels listing moderators’ names and addresses, leaving him fearful for his safety and that of his family.

While Sama eventually moved one identified moderator to a safehouse, the petition alleges that the company initially dismissed the moderators’ complaints, accusing them of fabricating the threats.

Hate Speech Concerns in Ethiopia

The court documents also accuse Meta of failing to address systemic issues surrounding hate speech on its platform in Ethiopia. Alewiya Mohammed, a former supervisor of moderators, testified that moderators were caught in a “loop of hateful content” they were unable to remove because it did not technically violate Meta’s policies.

Experts previously hired by Meta had recommended more robust action against harmful content in Ethiopia, but the advice was allegedly ignored.

Broader Legal and Ethical Implications

This case is one of several ongoing legal challenges faced by Meta concerning its operations in Ethiopia. A separate lawsuit filed in 2022 accused Meta of allowing violent posts on Facebook to escalate the Ethiopian civil war between federal forces and Tigrayan regional authorities.

Meanwhile, the current lawsuit involving the dismissed moderators could have global repercussions for how Meta engages with third-party contractors and content moderators.

Meta has yet to comment on the allegations, while Sama said it could not provide a statement on the matter. The Oromo Liberation Army has also not responded to requests for comment.

The situation highlights the dangerous environment moderators face, particularly in regions like Ethiopia, where content moderation intersects with armed conflicts.

Olympic Runner Rebecca Cheptegei’s Tragic End After Defying Violent Ex-Boyfriend

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Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, who represented Uganda in the Paris Olympics, was tragically murdered by her ex-boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema Marangach, on September 1st. Cheptegei, a 33-year-old mother of two, had ended her relationship with Marangach earlier this year due to repeated threats and violence. Despite reporting his abuse to the police multiple times, her pleas for help went unanswered, leaving her vulnerable to the fatal attack.

On the day of the murder, Marangach set Cheptegei on fire after dousing her in gasoline at her home in Kenya’s Kinyoro village. Both Cheptegei and Marangach later died from their injuries. Cheptegei’s 17-year-old sister, Dorcas, was also attacked with a machete while trying to defend her.

Cheptegei’s tragic death sheds light on the vulnerability of successful female athletes in Kenya’s patriarchal society, where women who achieve financial independence often become targets for predatory men. Her death is the third in Kenya’s running community since 2021, following the murders of Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua, also allegedly killed by their romantic partners.

Despite her success as an athlete and her efforts to escape her abusive relationship, Cheptegei was failed by the authorities who failed to act on her repeated complaints. Activists in Kenya are decrying the ongoing lack of accountability for violence against women, particularly in the sports community.

 

Olympic Marathon Runner Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Petrol Attack

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Ugandan marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei has tragically passed away following a violent attack in which she was doused in petrol and set on fire by a former partner, according to Ugandan officials. The 33-year-old athlete, who had recently competed in Paris, succumbed to severe burns sustained in the attack, which occurred on Sunday after she returned from church. Cheptegei, who lived and trained in north-west Kenya, was reportedly targeted in an altercation related to a dispute over land with her ex-boyfriend. The police have launched an investigation into the incident, amid growing concerns about the rise of violence against female athletes in the region.

The Uganda Athletics Federation expressed deep sorrow over Cheptegei’s death and condemned the act of domestic violence, calling for justice and peace for the deceased athlete. Dr. Owen Menach, head of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, confirmed that Cheptegei’s death resulted from multiple organ failures. Her former boyfriend, who also suffered burns, was hospitalized with less severe injuries. The local police chief reported that the attack occurred during a heated argument, with the boyfriend pouring a flammable liquid on Cheptegei before setting her ablaze.

Cheptegei, originally from Uganda, had recently purchased land in Kenya’s Trans Nzoia County and built a house to be closer to athletic training facilities. Uganda’s Olympic committee praised Cheptegei’s athletic legacy, describing the attack as a senseless act that has robbed the sport of a talented competitor. Her father, Joseph Cheptegei, called for justice, lamenting the inhumanity of the crime. The athlete, who finished 44th in the marathon at the Paris Olympics and won gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in 2022, is the latest in a troubling pattern of violence against East African female athletes, following the recent murders of Agnes Tirop and Damaris Mutua.