Protecting justice leaders in Mexico, Central America and sub-Saharan Africa from online malicious attacks

 

This project seeks to contribute to the protection and cultivation of a democratic, independent and safe information environment with a focus on the Global South. Justice leaders, including journalists, environmental and climate defenders, politicians and movement leaders, lawyers and judges, increasingly fall victim to attacks and disinformation campaigns against them. Women, LGBTQI+ people and marginalized communities are at a greater risk of suffering these types of attacks.

These attacks and disinformation campaigns are often well-organized operations, which are referred to as malicious influence operations (MIOs). Additional and ongoing research is needed to understand the most effective responses to those operations – responses both in real time seeking to mitigate immediate risks to the justice leaders, and long-term strategic responses targeting the phenomenon itself. Such responses need to be based on accurate and up-to-date information regarding different aspects of the attacks, including their nature, the actors behind them and the methodologies used.

The overall objectives of the project are to identify and research MIOs and other online attacks in the project’s focus regions (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and, at a later stage, sub-Saharan Africa) to provide accurate and timely information to justice leaders, assist in credible threat assessment and support endeavours for accountability. An already existing research hub based in Mexico will be strengthened to provide research on the operating environment that makes MIOs and other online attacks visible and identifies the actors behind them, as well as their assets and methodologies. The project will strengthen the capacity of civil society to identify, research and reduce the harm of malign influence operations through sharing knowledge, technical training and direct support in response to or to prevent attacks.