Activists globally are voicing concerns about the harassment encountered on Meta’s social media platforms. A survey conducted by Global Witness, a nonprofit that monitors the violence against environmental advocates, revealed that over 90 percent of land and environmental defenders experienced some form of online abuse associated with their advocacy work. Facebook emerged as the primary platform where abuse occurred, followed closely by X, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
Global Witness and many respondents are urging Meta and similar companies to enhance their efforts in combating harassment and misinformation on their platforms. There are worries that unchecked online aggression may increase real-world dangers for activists, with 75 percent of those surveyed believing that online abuse correlates with physical harm.
“We were surprised by the statistics; they were much higher than anticipated,” noted Ava Lee, who leads campaign strategy on digital threats at Global Witness, while speaking with Technology News. She emphasized this perspective despite having prior anecdotal evidence suggesting a grim reality. “The overall experience for climate activists and environmental defenders online has long been recognized as deeply troubling,” Lee stated.
Online attacks could lead to increased real-world risks for activists
The Global Witness survey encompassed over 200 individuals from November 2024 to March of this year, targeting those in networks often utilized for documenting the killings of land and environmental defenders. The findings indicated that platforms owned by Meta were deemed “the most toxic.” Approximately 62 percent of participants encountered abuse on Facebook, 36 percent on WhatsApp, and 26 percent on Instagram.
This prevalence of abuse likely mirrors the widespread popularity of Meta’s platforms, with Facebook boasting over 3 billion active monthly users, representing more than a third of the world’s population. However, critics have pointed out that Meta’s discontinuation of its third-party fact-checking program in January could invite an increase in hate speech and misinformation. The company has since adopted a crowdsourced method for content moderation similar to that of X, where 37 percent of survey respondents reported experiencing abuse.
In May, Meta acknowledged a “slight increase in the prevalence of bullying and harassment content” on Facebook, along with a minor uptick in violent and graphic content during the first quarter of 2025.
Hannah Sharpe, a senior campaigner at Global Witness, remarked on the irony of Meta’s shift toward a “free speech model,” suggesting that it may actually silence certain voices rather than amplify them.
In Sulawesi, Indonesia, Fatrisia Ain, who heads a local women’s collective, has faced severe ramifications from palm oil companies encroaching on farmers’ lands and polluting vital water sources. She describes being labeled a communist on Facebook, a serious charge in her country.
The tactic of “red-tagging,” or denouncing dissenters as communists, has frequently been used to intimidate activists in Southeast Asia. In a notable incident, an environmental activist in Indonesia was incarcerated under “anti-communism” laws after protesting against a new gold mine.
Despite her appeals to Facebook to remove harmful posts aimed at her, Ain was met with refusal. “They claimed it wasn’t dangerous enough to warrant removal. It certainly is dangerous. I hope Meta realizes how perilous the situation can be in Indonesia,” she expressed.
Additionally, Ain has faced accusations on social media of fraud and personal attacks aimed at discrediting her, potentially heightening the threats she already encounters as an activist. “Women defending their communities face greater vulnerability than men… they are subject to more harassment,” she stated.
According to the Global Witness survey, nearly two-thirds of respondents have expressed concerns for their personal safety. Ain, who has faced physical threats during protests against palm oil corporations, recounted an incident where she was inappropriately touched by men during a demonstration. For her safety, she now has older women activists provide protection when leading protests.
In the survey, about a quarter of the participants reported being targeted due to their gender. Lee highlighted that women, particularly women of color in political environments, receive disproportionately high levels of hate. “This dynamic is evident in the experiences of defenders, where threats of sexual violence severely impact their mental well-being,” she elaborated.
Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton responded via email, suggesting users utilize available safety tools to shield against bullying and harassment. Clayton mentioned that the company is currently analyzing offensive posts directed at Ain and highlighted features like “Hidden Words” to filter harmful messages as well as the “Limits” functionality that conceals comments from non-followers.
Other platforms referenced in the report, such as Google, TikTok, and X, did not provide official comments to inquiries made by Technology News. Similarly, a palm oil company implicated in Ain’s claims of taking land from local farmers has yet to respond.
Global Witness asserts that social media companies could take specific measures to combat harassment on their sites, which includes allocating more resources for content moderation and engaging in periodic assessments of these systems while also inviting public input. Activists have voiced concerns that algorithms favoring divisive content and the presence of automated accounts exacerbate the issue.
Lee stressed that there are various options that platforms can pursue to improve conditions, including increasing investment in effective content moderation and safety initiatives.
Looking ahead, Global Witness is preparing to release its next report on the killings of land and environmental defenders in September. The previous report indicated that at least 196 individuals were killed in 2023.
