Further analysis conducted by researcher Raymond Serrato of 15,000 Facebook posts from a Facebook group containing 55,000 Ma Ba Tha supporters from June 2016 onwards found that activity in the group “spiked on 24 and 25 August 2017, when ARSA Rohingya militants attacked government force… with posts registering a 200% increase in interactions” – this being the event that precipitated the launch of the Myanmar military’s ‘clearance operations’.125 The connection between increasingly prevalent anti-Rohingya posts on Facebook and the risk of an outbreak of mass violence has long been noted by NGOs and academics. In September 2017, weeks after the military launched its campaign of violence, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting published findings from its hate speech monitoring project which it had been undertaking during the previous two years in Myanmar: “The vast majority of hate speech was on social media, particularly Facebook… But while not all hate speech was anti-Muslim or anti-Rohingya, the overwhelming majority certainly was… Over time, we saw the hate speech becoming more targeted and militaristic… At the same time we noted… in the absence of any kind of political leadership that a darkening and deepening vacuum that would ultimately result in a violent reckoning.”126 5.2.1 THE ACTIVE ROLE OF THE MYANMAR MILITARY AND AUTHORITIES IN SPREADING ANTI-ROHINGYA CONTENT Amnesty International has previously documented the extensive use of the Facebook platform by senior military officials to justify, encourage, or order violence and discrimination against the Rohingya during and preceding the so-called “clearance operations”.127 The Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing had close oversight over the operations, and Amnesty International has documented his involvement in crimes against humanity perpetrated against the Rohingya.128 On 1 September 2017, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced on his Facebook page that, “in the ongoing incidents,” the Myanmar military “had to get involved as the strength of police forces alone could not defend.”129 From 19-21 September, while in Rakhine State, posts on Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s Facebook page indicated his active involvement in the “clearance operations”, including statements indicating that he “gave [those commanders] instructions on getting timely information” and on the “systematic deployment of security forces,” among other things. 130 He also used his Facebook page to justify and celebrate the actions of the military in Northern Rakhine State, stating that he “honoured” the military’s “brilliant efforts to restore regional peace.”131 Amnesty International has documented how Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s Facebook page often included inflammatory posts, including a 1 September 2017 post that said, “We openly declare that absolutely, our country has no Rohingya race’”; and a 20 September 2017 post that said “collective efforts must be made to protect the minorities of Buthidaung/Maungtaw region such as Mro, Khamee, Thet and The Guardian, “Revealed: Facebook hate speech exploded in Myanmar during Rohingya crisis”, 3 April 2018, theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/03/revealed-facebook-hate-speech-exploded-in-myanmar-during-rohingya-crisis 125 Institute for War and Peace Reporting, “How social media spurred Myanmar’s latest violence”, 12 September 2017, iwpr.net/globalvoices/how-social-media-spurred-myanmars-latest-violence 126 Amnesty International, My World Is Finished: Rohingya Targeted In Crimes Against Humanity In Myanmar, (Index: ASA 16/7288/2017), 18 October 2017, amnesty.org/en/documents/asa16/7288/2017/en; Amnesty International, ”We Will Destroy Everything”: Military Responsibility For Crimes Against Humanity In Rakhine State, Myanmar (Index: ASA/16/8630/2018), 27 June 2018. 127 Amnesty International, My World Is Finished: Rohingya Targeted In Crimes Against Humanity In Myanmar, (Index: ASA 16/7288/2017), 18 October 2017; Amnesty International, “We Will Destroy Everything”: Military Responsibility For Crimes Against Humanity In Rakhine State, Myanmar (Index: ASA/16/8630/2018), 27 June 2018. 128 Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Facebook Posts,1 September 2017, facebook.com/seniorgeneralminaunghlaing/posts/1698274643540350 (last accessed 12 October 2017), cited in, Amnesty International, My world is finished, p.41, amnesty.org/en/documents/asa16/7288/2017/en 129 Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Facebook Posts, 19 September 2017, facebook.com/seniorgeneralminaunghlaing/posts/1715340745167073; 20 September 2017, facebook.com/seniorgeneralminaunghlaing/posts/1716465351721279(all last accessed 12 October 2017), cited in, Amnesty International, “My world is finished”, p.41. 130 Senior General Min Aung Hlaing Facebook Posts, 19 September 2017, facebook.com/seniorgeneralminaunghlaing/posts/1715340745167073, 20 September 2017; facebook.com/seniorgeneralminaunghlaing/posts/1716465351721279 (all last accessed 12 October 2017), cited in, Amnesty International, “My world is finished”, p.41. 131 THE SOCIAL ATROCITY META AND THE RIGHT TO REMEDY FOR THE ROHINGYA Amnesty International 29