Climate Disinformation
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. Our coalition has co-developed cross-issue networks with Change The Terms, a coalition that has pressured Facebook to remove hate speech online.
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.
The climate disinformation trends in the U.S. that are blocking climate policy are clearly being echoed in Canada.
Senator Schumer is slow-walking regulations, giving Silicon Valley a free pass to put profits over people and the planet.
AI companies spread hype that they might save the planet, but currently they are doing just the opposite.
OpenAI, Google, and others are rapidly trying to outdo each other while making promises about “safety” that they just as quickly throw out the window, trampling the rights of women, minorities, artists, and journalists along the way.
Individual behavior changes alone won’t solve the problem of a high-polluting internet. Ultimately, what’s needed is systemic change from tech companies and fossil fuel companies.
New technology like artificial intelligence (AI) is entering increasingly widespread use with essentially no safety checks at all.
Every other industry — from food production to car manufacturers to airlines — has to report about the safety of its products. So why should tech companies be any different?
It’s hard enough to make strides when it comes to climate action. Green-lighting blatant lies about the scale of the climate crisis cannot continue