The surge in digital harassment in Guatemala is occurring against the backdrop of a fragile political landscape plagued by corruption, links between political elites and organized crime, and a struggle to overcome the legacy of military dictatorship and impunity. The 2023 election saw anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo win, only to have state prosecutors refuse to recognize the outcome, leading to accusations of an attempted coup. Despite massive Indigenous-led protests and international pressure, the coup ultimately failed.
Now, those who defended the legitimacy of the election are facing backlash in the form of coordinated smear campaigns. Indigenous leaders and land activists asserting their rights are frequent targets of these campaigns, which aim to criminalize and delegitimize their efforts. Weak regulation and enforcement by global social media companies have allowed these abuses to continue unchecked, with platforms like Meta and X criticized for rolling back key safety measures.
The criminalization of land and environmental defenders often begins online, where harassment and disinformation lay the groundwork for further repression. Global Witness warns that social media companies must be held accountable for failing to enforce their own policies against harassment, hate speech, and incitement to violence. The weaponization of stigma and fear online poses a significant threat to democracy and human rights, highlighting the need for stronger platform governance and accountability measures.
As Brendan Montague from The Ecologist emphasizes, the situation in Guatemala underscores Big Tech’s failure to address these issues effectively. Ensuring safer conditions for defenders of democracy, the environment, and human rights to carry out their work is crucial for upholding justice and combating corruption in Guatemala. It is imperative that social media companies take responsibility for their role in enabling digital harassment and work towards creating a more secure online environment for activists and advocates.
