Climate Disinformation

Climate Disinformation

The corporatization and centralization of our communications channels is a threat to American and progressive values, and can only be effectively fought if we stand in unity with other movements.

Friends of the Earth works to reduce the spread of disinformation that potentially affects all of our campaigns. As technology and media companies consolidate their power, our fundamental ability to campaign on any issue is threatened, as corporate polluters gain more control over the basic communications systems that are needed for social change and democracy itself.

Our program has been in development since 2018, when we brought together the U.S. environmental community to look at the broad threats of new communications technologies–from disinformation to surveillance, from deep-fakes to algorithmic discrimination. We pressure companies and Congress to reduce disinformation and ensure that the free speech of individuals is not limited by corporate actors, foreign influence, or coordinated radical networks like QAnon. While we are focused currently on climate change disinformation perpetuated by fossil fuel companies and their inauthentic networks, our work will continue to center the voices and experiences of people who are affected by multiple types of corporate and technological control.

Our program has been deliberately intersectional from the outset, realizing that many of the same organizations and people online that deny climate change, also deny rights for women, discriminate against people of color, limit voter access, and question public health science.

Friends of the Earth co-developed the intersectional Climate Action Against Disinformation coalition, on which it serves as a steering committee member and policy working group co-lead.