Dangerous Speech, Anti-Muslim Violence, and Facebook in Myanmar nationalist organization, and again pledged to increase the number of content reviewers.40 This is critical, because a largely technological approach, focused primarily on artificial intelligence searches for key words, is too crude. Facebook must also recruit and communicate regularly with local experts who can assess the context and identify key organizations and individuals with significant followings who are engaging in dangerous speech. Conclusion Facebook posts and messages have played a key part in spreading fear and inciting anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar. Both the government and Facebook must act to prevent such violence in the future. Banning Facebook is not the answer but there must be a better balance between allowing forms of free speech, including criticism of state leaders and factual reporting of rights abuses, while curtailing dangerous speech. Ideally, the Myanmar Government would publicly condemn the use of dangerous speech, educate citizens to critically assess information, create a more conducive environment for independent journalism, and consistently promote an inclusive national narrative. Beyond that, the media could facilitate a process of rehumanizing the enemy “other” and cultivating empathy.41 If it really wants to live up to its promise of making the platform a welcome and safe space for all, Facebook could work together with the government and relevant civil society groups to foster more respectful and thoughtful communication, at least on its pages. In Myanmar today, as one citizen put it, “Facebook is life.”42 What then, could be more important than ensuring it is no longer a platform for catalyzing lethal violence? Christina Fink is a professor of practice of international affairs at the George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. She is the author of Living Silence in Burma: Surviving Under Military Rule (2009) and of more recent journal articles and chapters on political reform, institution building, civil society development, and rights in Myanmar. Her most recent journal articles include “Myanmar in 2017: Insecurity and Violence,” in Asian Survey and “Myanmar: Religious Minorities and Constitutional Questions,” in Asian Affairs. NOTES 1 “Understanding Dangerous Speech,” Dangerous Speech Project, https://dangerousspeech.org/ faq/?faq=201. 2 Babak Bahador, “The Media and Deconstruction of the Enemy Image,” V. Hawkins and J Hoffmann, eds., Communication and Peace: Mapping an Emerging Field (London: Routledge, 2015), 120–122. 3 Htun Khaing, “Fierce Competition and Well-Kept Secrets as Chinese Smartphone Firms Target journal of international affairs | 49