The rise of social media has been a welcome boost for free speech and equal representation, particularly in parts of the world where government-controlled outlets dominate the media space. But this freedom can come with risks of destabilization, as propaganda, misinformation, and hate speech exacerbate offline tensions.
This event will explore the impact of social media in fragile contexts, through two thematic panels. We will look at the importance of state actors in cases such as Myanmar and El Savador, and Syria, but also on the opposition and non-state actors in countries such as Cameroon, Venezuela and Libya.
The event will bring together Crisis Group researchers in a roundtable discussion with external experts and discussants from the European Union and specialised institutions, and it will be livestreamed on Crisis Group’s YouTube channel.