Prince Harry has once again rebuked social media companies and tasked them to be more accountable and put misinformation in check.
According to the Duke of Sussex, misinformation on social media is not an issue to be treated lightly. He said that it has caused many ugly incidents.
Prince Harry told internet firm Fast Company in an interview; “We have seen time and again what happens when the real-world cost of misinformation is disregarded.
“There is no way to downplay this. There was a literal attack on democracy in the United States, organised on social media, which is an issue of violent extremism.
“It is widely acknowledged that social media played a role in the genocide in Myanmar and was used as a vehicle to incite violence against the Rohingya people, which is a human rights issue.
Also read: DJ Khaled to host MTV Africa Music Awards 2021
“And in Brazil, social media provided a conduit for misinformation which ultimately brought destruction to the Amazon, which is an environmental and global health issue.”
He also mentioned that false information about himself and his wife, Meghan, had been the root cause of the harassment they suffered online. This led the couple to make the decision to completely shun social media.
In his statement, Prince Harry further appealed to social media companies to be more focused on their accountability and not just financial gain. Expressing frustration, he said; “It’s hard for me to understand how the platforms themselves can eagerly take profit but shun responsibility.”
Since his marriage to actress Meghan Markle, Prince Harry has been in an ongoing tussle with media companies for misinformation as well as internet trolls. Their decision to step down as senior royals in March 2020 had caused a tumultuous reception on the internet.
Nuff said