Humanitarians, peacekeepers, U.N. agencies, and civil society organizations increasingly point to social media as a vector for harm to civilians and prisoners of war (PoWs) in armed conflict settings. For example, harmful social media content (such as disinformation, misinformation, or hate speech, known by its acronym MDH) may improperly encourage categorizing civilians as legitimate targets; it may distort information necessary for people affected by conflict to access services or reach safety, leading to civilian harm; or it may create false narratives around civilians who may be involved in defending human rights or documenting violations of IHL, undermining trust in those persons and compromising their safety. Moreover, hate speech directed against certain groups may lead to stigmatization, persecution, or escalation in violence, displacement, or potentially even death.

Despite growing acceptance of the heightened risks of harm stemming from harmful social media content in conflict settings, there is limited research documenting the relationship between MDH and its human consequences. There is similarly a limited understanding of the legal implications of such a relationship under relevant bodies of law. Increasing understanding about this relationship is critical to developing effective policy and legal responses– by governments, tech companies, civil society, and humanitarian and human rights organizations – in order to enhance protection in conflict settings.