NEW: Court says our case challenging Facebook’s algorithm spreading death and hate speech can proceed in Kenya! – Foxglove
3 Mins Read
04.04.2025
Great news from Nairobi. The Kenyan high court has ruled that the case of Abrham Meareg, Fisseha Tekle and the Katiba Institute – who are challenging how Facebook’s algorithm fanned the flames of violence in Ethiopia – can finally proceed. In legal terms, this is called having “jurisdiction”.
Facebook owners Meta have been arguing for years that the Kenyan courts didn’t have the power to hear the case.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because this is an argument Meta has tried before, in our cases supporting Facebook content moderators in Kenya’s labour courts, fighting back against their unlawful mass firing.
Yesterday, yet again, Meta’s argument was rejected.
This means the case can continue, and Facebook should, eventually, face accountability in the courts.
Foxglove is delighted with this decision, and so are Abrham and Fisseha. Here’s what they said after the judgement was announced:
“I am grateful for the court’s decision today. It is disgraceful that Meta would argue that they should not be subject to the rule of law in Kenya. African lives matter.
“Mark Zuckerberg may imagine that justice begins and ends at the US border. I am happy that the court has demonstrated today that is not the case.”
Abrham Meareg
“The court has made the right decision. Facebook fanned the flames of hatred and violence in Ethiopia – I myself cannot return home because of Meta’s failure to make his platform safe.
“Meta cannot undo the damage it has done, but it can radically change how it moderates dangerous content across all its platforms to make sure no-one else has to go through what I have.
I look forward to this matter now being heard by the court in full.”
Fisseha Tekle
This breakthrough comes at a particularly important time in the fight to make Big Tech accountable for the safety of its products and platforms.
Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy seems to be to cosy up to Donald Trump and hope this gives Meta immunity around the world. In Nairobi, today, the courts have reiterated that Meta is not above African justice.
Foxglove is supporting this case alongside our partners in Kenya, lawyers Nzili & Sumbi Advocates, and the Katiba Institute who are also part of the legal action.
We couldn’t support cases like this without the donations of amazing Foxglove supporters. So if you’re already chipping in – thank you so much, this is one of the ways your donation is making a difference.
And if you’re inspired to make a donation today, you can do so by clicking hitting the button below:
