CiR2P Option 33 | Restrict communications
DISCUSSION:
Attempting to shape (restrict or otherwise) social media content (and other communications such as radio and mobile phone frequencies) can play an important role in the protection of civilians during a crisis.
In 2021, there were approximately 4.2 billion active social media users – 53% of the global population. In 2020, 490 million new users joined social media, a growth rate of 13.2%. On average, social media users have accounts on eight different platforms and spend two-and-a-half hours per day on social media. Most uses are between 17-24 years old.
Consequently, according to the UN Department of Political and Peacekeeping Affairs, “social media increasingly shapes political and social interactions and, indeed, people’s perceptions of reality”.
Social media can undermine efforts to prevent, manage and resolve a crisis. Threats, hate speech and the intentional creation and circulation of mis-and-dis information about the situation and key stakeholders are becoming commonplace in crisis situations as was seen prior to, during and after, both the so-called ‘clearance operations’ in Myanmar in 2017 and the Libyan peace process in 2020.
As the climate crisis worsens, Western nations could consider working with social media companies (and locals in climate risk states) to:
- establish in-country social media monitoring services with staff knowledgably about climate change impacts and opportunities
- combat mis-and-dis information on their platforms about climate change impacts and responses such as the intentions of climate-related missions (eg aid interventions). Mis-and-dis information should be labelled in local languages, with links to genuine information such as official UN statements
- remove or label content that aims to intimidate key constituencies or negotiators
- establish processes that would allow for a ‘digital ceasefire’ between key stakeholders (and their constituencies) to be implemented should an environmental emergency occur
Working to develop a common understanding between the key parties in fragile states about the major risks and opportunities posed by climate change underpins these efforts.