The Oversight Board for Meta Platforms on Thursday recommended the suspension of Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Sen after it pulled down a video in which the 70-year-old politician threatened violence on his opponents.
Mr Sen’s video was seen to be a “serious breach,” and Meta erred by allowing it on Facebook, according to the independent board that makes enforceable content moderation recommendations for the company’s Facebook and Instagram platforms. The board also recommended that the account be suspended for six months.
“Hun Sen uses social media to amplify threats against his opponents, spreading them more widely and causing more harm than he would be able to do without access to Meta’s platforms,” the board wrote in its 26-page report.
It added, “Hun Sen’s use of the platforms to incite violence against his political opposition, taken in the context of his history, his government’s human rights abuses, and the upcoming election combine to require immediate action.”
Meta agreed to pull down the video but said it would respond to suspending the Cambodian prime minister’s Facebook account after a review. The tech giant may be worried about the impact of the suspension on the country’s election, which is less than a month away, being cautious not to suppress political voices.
Mr Sen had live-streamed a political speech that threatened and incited violence against his opponents ahead of the election. In the speech, he refused accusations that he and his party had engaged in malpractice in the country’s last election. He threatened to sue his critics or rally a mob action against them.
“Either you face legal action in court, or I rally (CPP) people for a demonstration and beat you up,” Mr Sen stated.
