Facebook's failure in Myanmar is the work of a blundering toddler

The social network ploughs its way through the world and deals with the consequences later. In Myanmar, that strategy has had deadly consequences

When Facebook invited journalists for a phone briefing on Tuesday evening to talk about its progress in tackling hate speech in Myanmar, it seemed like a proactive, well-intentioned move from a company that is typically fighting PR fires on several fronts.

But the publication of a bombshell Reuters investigation on Wednesday morning suggested otherwise: the press briefing was an ass-covering exercise.