The Rabat Plan of Action distinguishes between forms of expression that advocate hatred that constitute
incitement to violence, hostility or discrimination that must be prohibited; forms of expression that are not
criminally punishable but may justify a civil suit; and forms of expression that do not give rise to criminal or
civil sanctions, but still raise concerns in terms of tolerance, civility and respect for the convictions of
others.105
For the purposes of this report, the term “advocacy of hatred” refers to expression that advocates hatred
constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence and that must therefore be prohibited by law in
accordance with Article 20 of the ICCPR. In addition, the report also addresses the spread of expression that
may not reach the threshold of “advocacy of hatred”, but still raises concerns in terms of tolerance, civility,
and respect for the convictions of others, impacting the right to non-discrimination and equality. Amnesty
International has not sought to make individual determinations as to whether specific pieces of content on
the Facebook platform qualify as “advocacy of hatred”. However, as various international human rights
bodies have already determined, many of the examples cited in the following chapters would meet this high
threshold.
105
Rabat Plan of Action, para 20.
THE SOCIAL ATROCITY
META AND THE RIGHT TO REMEDY FOR THE ROHINGYA
Amnesty International
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