Not long ago, social media giants like Twitter and Facebook were soaking up praise for playing an essential role in supporting democratic revolutions in the Middle East. But less than a decade later, these same platforms are now widely derided as hotbeds of hate speech and disinformation, so much so that even some prominent tech journalists are supporting one country’s decision to temporarily ban social media sites.
After more than 300 people were killed in a series of coordinated bombings last weekend, the Sri Lankan government moved to do just that, starting with a temporary ban on Facebook. In a statement, the Sri Lankan Defense Ministry proclaimed that the internet blockade would remain intact for the duration of the investigation. In a separate statement, Udaya Seneviratne, secretary to the Sri Lankan president, said access to social media services had been restricted in the wake of the attacks to counter “false news reports.”
The country is no stranger to employing such restrictions in the wake of violence. Last March, Sri Lankan authorities demanded that ISPs block access to Facebook and the company’s other services after members of the majority Sinhalese ethnic group launched a series of brutal attacks against Muslims…
