The Rising tide of Disinformation: A Direct Threat to Peace

the proliferation of smartphones and the intensification of geopolitical tensions have converged to create a dangerous new reality for United Nations peacekeepers. Misinformation and disinformation, amplified through social media, are increasingly putting these forces in direct danger and undermining their ability to maintain stability in conflict zones.This crisis is not just a foreign policy concern; it has direct implications for U.S. national security and the effectiveness of international efforts to promote peace and security.

Melissa Fleming, the UN’s Under Secretary for Global Communications, described the severity of the problem in stark terms: “It’s an absolutely enormous problem. I’ve been working for the United Nations in communications for decades, and I have never encountered a complex facts environment that is so full of toxins and dangers.” She added, “The [information] ecosystem is really polluted, and it is indeed dividing people and also turning people against the UN in some places.”

Jean-Pierre LaCroix, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, echoed this concern, highlighting how disinformation directly impacts operational effectiveness: “Peacekeepers have been accused of delivering weapons to armed groups. You can imagine the kind of impact that can have on communities affected by these armed groups… We have been accused of blowing up bridges when our peacekeepers were repairing the bridges.”

Lebanon: A case Study in Deadly Consequences

The UN’s Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) provides a stark example of how disinformation can have deadly consequences. In December 2022,Private Seán Rooney,an Irish peacekeeper,was killed after the UN-marked armored vehicle he was traveling in came under fire. Another Irish soldier, Trooper Shane Kearney, was badly wounded in the incident. This tragic event was, in part, fueled by a constant stream of false information.

Kandice Ardiel,Deputy chief of Strategic Communications with UNIFIL,explained the impact: “Persistent rumours” were circulated prior to Pte Rooney’s death,stemming from Hezbollah and affiliated commentators,driving “a misapprehension that these peacekeepers,who were doing a completely innocent activity,were doing something wrong.”

andrea Tenenti, Chief of Strategic Communications with UNIFIL, elaborated on the nature of the disinformation campaign: “By accusing us of being on the side of Israel and spying for Israel, that was very dangerous because peacekeepers could have been attacked, as happened with Pte Rooney.” This narrative, pushed by figures like Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who in 2022 described UNIFIL as an “armed foreign force operating on Lebanese soil” and a “spy for Israel,” created a climate of hostility that directly endangered peacekeepers.

Since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, UNIFIL has faced increased disinformation from the Israeli side, which has reached the level beyond criticism.

“‘There has been a lot of disinformation from the Israeli side to delegitimise the role of the mission politically – to ensure that the mission is completely ineffective,’ Mr Tenenti said.

“‘We have been accused [by Israel] of not being able to find or to report on Hezbollah violations, which means weapons being present in the south [of Lebanon]. The reality is we have been reporting all of the suspicious activities on the ground,’ Mr Tenenti added.

“‘We are here to support the Lebanese army to ensure there are no weapons in the south, but we have not a disarming role. The mandate doesn’t allow us to disarm militias,’ Mr Tenenti said.”

The Wagner Group and Russian Disinformation: A Global Threat

The impact of disinformation extends far beyond Lebanon.In Mali, the United Nations mission ended in 2023 after a decade of operation, failing to stabilize the country. While multiple factors contributed to this outcome, disinformation played a significant role. As the security situation worsened, fueled by Islamist insurgents and political instability, anti-UN sentiment grew, amplified by disinformation campaigns linked to the Kremlin-backed Russian mercenary group, Wagner.

Reports indicate that Mali became inundated with disinformation campaigns linked to Russia as 2018. These campaigns, spread across social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, Telegram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, aimed to incite anti-French and anti-UN sentiment. The New York Times reported that “Russian fake news” was being produced on “an industrial scale” in Mali.

Ephrem Yalike-Ngonzo, a former Wagner disinformation operative, revealed the inner workings of these campaigns. he told the Associated Press (AP) that he was pressured to manufacture a narrative of public dissent against perceived external interference, specifically targeting France, the United States, and the United Nations. he was also instructed to cover up abuses committed by Wagner forces. This coordinated effort highlights the sophisticated and malicious nature of these disinformation campaigns.

The Democratic Republic of Congo: Frustration and Disinformation

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) provides another example of how disinformation can exacerbate existing tensions and undermine UN peacekeeping efforts. Albert Trithart, a Research Fellow at the International Peace institute (IPI), explained that “Several UN peacekeeping operations have seen what are clearly orchestrated campaigns of disinformation in recent years… They usually have a broader anti-western dimension to them, but part of that includes an anti-UN dimension.”

Trithart cautioned against oversimplifying the situation: “There’s the idea that Congolese people are just brainwashed by disinformation and that’s why they’re angry at the [UN] mission, when, in reality, they have many deep-seated long-standing reasons for their frustration – like the mission is not adequately providing protection.” Protests against the UN mission in 2022 turned violent, leading to the deaths of 36 people, including four peacekeepers. in 2023, a phased withdrawal of UN troops was announced, following a request from the government.

U.S.Implications and the Fight Against disinformation

The challenges facing UN peacekeepers have direct implications for the United States.As a major financial contributor to the UN and a key player in international security, the U.S. has a vested interest in ensuring the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations. Disinformation campaigns that undermine these operations directly threaten U.S. interests and global stability.

moreover, the rise of disinformation, notably from state-sponsored actors like Russia, poses a significant threat to U.S. national security.These campaigns are not limited to foreign countries; they are increasingly targeting the U.S. domestic audience, seeking to sow discord, undermine trust in institutions, and influence elections. The U.S. intelligence community has repeatedly warned about the dangers of foreign interference in U.S.elections, and disinformation is a key tool used in these efforts. The 2016 election which saw Russia launch a coordinated cyber campaign to meddle with the presidential elections and impact the results. This was highlighted in a report commissioned by the Senate Intelligence Committee.

According to the Senate report, Russian operatives made use of online platforms to spread disinformation, propaganda, and fake news with the intent of sowing discord and division among the Americans. Accounts linked to Kremlin sought to create an environment of distrust in the US political system.These campaigns made use of bots, fake accounts, and sophisticated algorithms.

The U.S. needs to address this issue from a multipronged approach that includes:

• Strengthening media literacy: Empowering citizens with the skills to critically evaluate information and identify disinformation.
• Supporting independent journalism: Investing in credible news sources that can provide accurate and reliable information.
• Working with social media platforms: Pressuring platforms to take more obligation for the content shared on their sites and to actively combat disinformation.
• International cooperation: Partnering with allies to counter disinformation campaigns and promote a free and open information environment.

The “Information War” and the Path Forward

UN officials recognize the urgent need to adapt to the changing information landscape. melissa Fleming stated, “It’s clear that the information environments are making operations much more challenging and that we need an urgent upgrading of our communications to operate in such environments. It’s an information war.” She emphasized the need for a “different narrative, a narrative based on facts.”

To succeed, the UN needs greater collaboration from social media platforms. Fleming called on platforms “to increase their presence in countries in conflict, in countries that are unstable, [to] have people who understand the language so that they can actually monitor what’s going on in their platforms and train their algorithms accordingly, because it is causing real-world harm.”

Kandice ardiel underscored the speed at which disinformation spreads: “Everyone is connected. Everyone has access to different channels of information, so these rumours spread faster than we frankly have the capacity to respond…Before,a rumour might take a few hours or days to get around. Now, it’s instant.”

Combating disinformation requires a concerted effort from governments, international organizations, social media platforms, and individuals. By working together, we can protect peacekeepers, promote stability, and defend the truth in an increasingly complex and challenging world.