Latest posts by Endalk
The murder of a young girl in Ethiopia reveals TikTok’s content moderation failures
Despite TikTok's policy prohibiting AI-generated content featuring individuals under 18 — whether real or fictional — videos featuring the likeness of the victim, Heaven Awot, proliferated across TikTok and other platforms ...
How the murder of musician Hachalu Hundessa incited violence in Ethiopia: Part II
Within an hour of musician Hachalu Hundessa’s assassination, Ethiopians netizens hit social media with scattershot conspiracy theories, hate speech & disinformation campaigns — particularly on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
How the murder of musician Hachalu Hundessa incited violence in Ethiopia: Part I
In the wake of musician Hachalu Hundessa's murder, Ethiopia has struggled to come to terms with the violence and turmoil that erupted along ethnic and religious faultlines.
How identity-driven conflicts fuel Ethiopia's incendiary social media rhetoric
Unity Park aimed to tell the story of all Ethiopians and celebrate the country’s diversity. But social media revealed politicized, nationalistic reactions along ethnic lines: Amhara and Oromo.
In Ethiopia’s disinformation epidemic, the crumbling ruling coalition is the elephant in the room
As acts of communal violence that took place in Oromia in October subsided, a new battle began online over interpretations of the violence — and who was to blame.
How Ethiopia's ruling coalition created a playbook for disinformation
Manipulation tactics used by Ethiopia's ruling coalition members against each other in their internal power struggle serve as a blueprint for opposition groups to attack their opponents and the government.
Months after pledge to open internet, Ethiopia disrupts connectivity amidst communal violence, tension
Ethiopian authorities have resorted to shutting down entire networks in response to recent ethnic and political tensions. A lack of transparency makes it impossible to challenge.
In Ethiopia, disinformation spreads through Facebook live as political tensions rise
Online conspiracy theories, political rants and rumors laced with communal hatred are now common genres in Ethiopian social media.
Leaked Documents Show That Ethiopia’s Ruling Elites Are Hiring Social Media Trolls (And Watching Porn)
The leaks include a list of individuals who appear to have been paid to promote the ruling coalition on social media.
Ethiopia's Music of Resistance Stays Strong, Despite Repression
Amid wide-scale protests and a violent government crackdown, Afan Oromo musicians have begun to rise as a visible — and audible — driving inspiration for the opposition movement.
Ethiopian Musicians Charged With Terrorism for ‘Inciting’ Song Lyrics
In the face of government repression, Afan Oromo musicians have risen as a visible -- and audible -- source of inspiration for the opposition movement.
Ethiopia Imposes Nationwide Internet Blackout
This blackout is broader in scope and scale than past ones, effectively eliminating Ethiopia from the map of the global Internet.
Ethiopian Protester Sentenced to Six Years Behind Bars for Facebook Posts
The 30-year-old activist has been an outspoken opponent of government’s violent response to the popular protest movement. And he is not alone.
Ethiopian Authorities Arrest Zone9 Blogger Befeqadu Hailu Citing ‘State of Emergency’
Hailu was told that his arrest was prompted by the interview he gave for Voice of America's Amharic Service about Ethiopia's state of emergency.
Ethiopian Authorities Shut Down Mobile Internet and Major Social Media Sites
Those close to the situation fear this may be the beginning of a dangerous new phase after 12 months of protests.
As Violence Escalates in Ethiopia, Zone9 and Other Prominent Bloggers Face New Legal Threats
Seyoum Teshome, a prominent member of the embattled community of Ethiopian online writers was arrested last Friday. Meanwhile, the Zone9 bloggers are scheduled to return to court on October 21.
Ethiopia Locks Down Digital Communications in Wake of #OromoProtests
#OromoProtests content on social media has triggered many attempts by the government to limit digital traffic and block telecom services in Oromia.
Ethiopia Protest Videos Show State Brutality, Despite Tech Barriers
Since student protests erupted in Ethiopia last November, mobile phone videos have offered a glimpse of the government's deadly crackdown on demonstrators.
Ethiopia Censors Satellite TV Channels as Student Protests Draw Global Media Attention
"If the regime thinks it can cut our audience off from receiving OMN news and programs, they are too dumb to understand what we are made of."
Ethiopia's Zone9 Bloggers Acquitted of Terror Charges
Many supporters on Twitter put words like "acquittal", "court" and "judiciary" in quotation marks to emphasize the degree to which the case exposed Ethiopia's failed judicial system.
