Rohingya atrocity survivor Maung Sawyeddollah filed a complaint with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Meta for its alleged role in promoting the spread of content inciting attacks against the Rohingya in Myanmar, according to a statement published by Amnesty International on Thursday.

In the complaint, Maung Sawyeddollah asked the SEC to investigate Meta’s violations of securities laws. He accused the company of making false statements to its shareholders regarding its involvement in fueling the violent attacks targeting the Rohingya people in 2017. Moreover, Sawyeddollah claimed that despite receiving warnings from civil society about the risk of using Facebook to promote violence against the Rohingya, Meta continued to conceal these risks and warnings from its shareholders.

Securities laws are a set of regulations that aim to ensure that investors receive accurate and necessary information on the type and value of the interest under consideration for purchase. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 identifies certain types of conduct in the markets and requires that certain information be given to a corporation’s shareholders as a prerequisite to soliciting votes.

Supporting the lawsuit, Amnesty International added that Meta refused a shareholder proposal to conduct a human rights impact assessment and to establish an internal committee to supervise the company’s human rights policy.

Amnesty International further added that Meta failed to enforce its Community Standards in Myanmar by allowing the dissemination of anti-Rohingya content on Facebook in the lead-up to 2017. The rights group described Meta’s content moderation policy as a failure, citing the insufficient number of content moderators and the company’s budgeting and staffing choices as the reasons behind the shortcomings. The group’s 2022 report also found that Meta used algorithms that increased and promoted content inciting violence, hatred, and discrimination against the Rohingya.

In recent years, Meta has faced various regulatory actions, including activity bans and fines for improper data storage. Earlier this month, the company announced the end of its fact-checking programs, citing concerns about “over-censorship” on its platforms. This decision drew criticism from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who highlighted Meta’s role in inciting violence through the spread of hateful content and misinformation on its social media platforms.