Plataformas tóxicas, planeta destruido

Global Witness reports that 92% of surveyed environmental defenders have suffered online abuse, with Meta-owned platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram) being the most frequent sites of harassment. The report highlights a direct link between digital attacks and offline violence, noting that 75% of those harmed offline believe online abuse contributed to it. It criticizes social media algorithms for promoting polarization and argues that inadequate moderation resources, particularly in Africa and Asia, leave defenders vulnerable to doxxing, cyberattacks, and criminalization. The document concludes that these digital threats create a chilling effect on the climate movement, leading to productivity loss and, in some cases, the cessation of activism.

• A vast majority of environmental and land defenders experience digital harassment, with 92% of survey respondents reporting they have suffered some form of online abuse or harassment due to their work.
• Meta-owned platforms are the primary sites for online abuse; 82% of defenders who suffered online abuse reported it occurring on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram, with Facebook being the most cited platform globally.
• Online harassment often serves as a precursor to physical violence; 75% of defenders who suffered offline harm believe online abuse contributed 'directly' or 'to some extent' to those real-world attacks.
• There is a significant regional disparity in platform responsiveness to reports of abuse; 72% of European respondents received some response from platforms, compared to only 50% of respondents in Africa.
• Social media business models and algorithms are viewed by nearly two-thirds of abused defenders as factors that aggravate harm by promoting polarization, enabling bots and trolls, and prioritizing engagement over safety.
• Defenders are frequently targeted with accusations of criminal activity or subversive political affiliations to undermine their credibility and justify state or corporate repression.
• Women defenders face specific gender-based attacks, including sexual threats and harassment, with nearly a quarter of female respondents reporting attacks based on their sex and nearly a fifth based on gender identity.
• Digital abuse has a direct negative impact on climate activism, causing loss of productivity and, in at least one documented case, the total cessation of activism.

APA

Global Witness (2025). Plataformas tóxicas, planeta destruido. https://globalwitness.org/es/campaigns/digital-threats/plataformas-toxicas-planeta-destruido/

Chicago

Global Witness. Plataformas tóxicas, planeta destruido. 2025. https://globalwitness.org/es/campaigns/digital-threats/plataformas-toxicas-planeta-destruido/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Witness |title=Plataformas tóxicas, planeta destruido |date=16 July 2025 |url=https://globalwitness.org/es/campaigns/digital-threats/plataformas-toxicas-planeta-destruido/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalwitness2025plataformas, author = {{Global Witness}}, title = {{Plataformas tóxicas, planeta destruido}}, institution = {Global Witness}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://globalwitness.org/es/campaigns/digital-threats/plataformas-toxicas-planeta-destruido/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }