Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is facing a $2.4 billion (£1.8 billion) lawsuit in Kenya over allegations that its platform contributed to ethnic violence during Ethiopia’s Tigray civil war. A Kenyan High Court recently ruled that the case can proceed, rejecting Meta’s argument that it falls outside the court’s jurisdiction.

The lawsuit was filed by two Ethiopian nationals, Abrham Meareg, whose father, Professor Meareg Amare, was murdered after being targeted on Facebook, and Fisseha Tekle, a former Amnesty International researcher who received death threats via the platform. They claim that Facebook’s algorithms amplified hate speech and incitement to violence, directly leading to real-world harm.

The plaintiffs are demanding that Meta create a restitution fund for victims, change its algorithms to prevent the spread of hate speech, and issue a formal apology.

The case is backed by human rights organizations including Amnesty International, Foxglove, and Kenya’s Katiba Institute. Previous investigations found that Facebook allowed violent and inflammatory posts to remain on the platform despite known risks.

Meta has declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter.