For human rights defenders – for all of us – online platforms are more than just social spaces, they are vital spaces for connection, exposing injustice, and sharing critical information.
The freedom to express ourselves and show solidarity for causes we believe in without fear of attack is essential for our societies and the big global challenges we care about.
Since July, we have been listening to human rights defenders from Palestine, Ukraine and Syria and social media users in the UK, France and Germany to understand whether digital platforms can still be considered safe spaces for expressing opinions and showing solidarity for people affected by conflict. What we found is deeply concerning: people are self-censoring and withdrawing from social media to protect themselves. This is particularly true for human rights defenders who work to expose human rights abuses and face relentless online abuse simply for speaking out.
Out of the more than 4,000 social media users we surveyed in France, Germany and the UK, we found that more than half had experienced some form of online abuse, which is alarming, especially considering that the younger generation – those aged 18 to 24 – have experienced the most online abuse. This could have significant consequences: a third of our respondents said they were considering leaving social media.
We cannot allow online platforms to remain unsafe spaces for human rights defenders and for all of us. These are places where we access critical information about conflict zones and human rights abuses every day – where the truth is documented, shared and preserved.
The European Union currently has some of the most advanced legislation in the world – the Digital Services Act – to hold digital platforms accountable, but it now needs to be rolled out and start working for all of us who want to use social media without fear. Together, we can demand that the EU enforce its existing legislation and set a global precedent – one that ensures safer online spaces for everyone.
When we spoke with Essam Hajjaj, a Palestinian human rights defender in Gaza, he highlighted the crucial role social media plays in his campaigning efforts: “I want people to know the truth. I have a story, and I want to share it.” The importance of social media in amplifying the voices of activists was also echoed by Julia Tymoshenko, a Ukrainian social media blogger and advocate: “My page became a way for me to tell the world what was really happening in Ukraine. There are enough of us with first-hand experience to show that what Russia is doing cannot be accepted by the international community.”
However, online platforms can also become extremely dangerous places for activists. Essam described the attacks he endures: “There were accounts commenting on our posts, threatening us. When we posted updates about what was happening or expressed opposition to the occupation, they’d say things like ‘You will be killed.’ These threats are constant.”
We must act now to make online platforms a place where social media users and human rights defenders feel safe. If we take action today, we can ensure that EU policymakers hold social media platforms accountable, respond to user complaints and take real steps to protect them from online harms.
Oula Osman Abou, an activist from Syria, now living in Europe, told us: “Sometimes I keep screenshots of messages from people grateful for me spreading the truth about Syria. It’s rewarding when someone sees me as a bridge between them and the truth.”
Thank you for standing with us to demand change. We know that when you show solidarity with people living on the frontline of conflict, it matters. You should be able to express your opinions and concern without fear of attack.
With gratitude,
Sandro
Digital Campaign Manager at The Syria Campaign