The 'ninjas' fighting climate change denial on Twitter
Secretive internet vigilantes have made it their mission to fight climate change denial on Twitter. But, as a vicious information war rages online, do they risk becoming the very trolls they claim to be targeting?
I meet Maria and Arthur at the top of a hill overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, in a small coastal town in Spain.
They ask me not to reveal their real names or their exact whereabouts. Over the years, they have made countless enemies on the internet, and they believe stepping out of the shadows could prove dangerous.
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"For you to be able to do your work, and not be scared of the consequences, you really have to fly under the radar," Maria tells me.
In 2019, she helped set up Team Ninja Trollhunters, a group of 25 people from around the world who came together to fight climate change denial on Twitter.
"For me, it was a necessity to show that many things that are being tweeted are wrong," Maria says.
The "ninjas" spotted claims going viral and responded to them with links to factual information - academic papers or scientific reports..
"But after a couple of months, you realise you don't make an impact because, for most of these people, facts are irrelevant," Maria says.
Meanwhile, back at the Bat Cave The Office of The Secretary General of The United Nations:
António Guterres
@antonioguterres
We all have a role to play in stopping the spread of harmful mis- and disinformation.
Pause and verify facts before sharing content online.
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7:12 AM · Aug 20, 2023 332.1K Views |
