As Azerbaijan is set to host the Cop 29 climate summit, a saddening report has revealed that, apparently fake social media accounts are boosting Azerbaijan to host the event.
This is a revelation from Global Witness, which conducted the analysis, says that these allegedly fake accounts were created after July. Using different hashtags on X platform, formerly twitter, the accounts artificially inflated the reach of government posts, which undermines the independent criticism of the country’s record on the climate crisis and repression of human rights.
The most disturbing issue is the report that Azerbaijan has significant fossil fuel reserves and intends to increase gas production by 50% in the next decade. If what is reported by the Global Witness is to go by, then Azerbaijan hosting this event is a joke to climate action efforts. Considering that this nation is a petrostate, something must be done.
The last climate summit, Cop28, was also held in a petrostate, the United Arab Emirates. In the runup to that conference, an army of fake social media accounts promoted and defended the UAE. Countries failed to agree to “phase out” fossil fuels at Cop28, as many wanted, instead choosing the weaker ambition of “transitioning away from fossil fuels”.
“Azerbaijan is days away from hosting the most important climate event of the year,” said Ava Lee of Global Witness. “It’s vitally important that there is space for a real discussion about what governments must do to address the climate emergency. Yet a network of seemingly inauthentic accounts are replacing rightful criticism with flowery positivity.”
Social media platforms are a powerful way to disseminate information to the public and if not used in the rightful manner it might set the wrong agenda. All digital platforms must be used properly, and the government of Azerbaijan has a case to answer.
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5 w
We need leaders who prioritize the planet, not just their image
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5 w
This is wrong with this deceptive tactic. It undermines the credibility of efforts to address climate change.
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5 w
This raises serious concerns about their transparency & credibility in climate event promotion. Shame on them!
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5 w
With what has already happened due to climate change....I don't think anyone should be joking with the issue of climate change.
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5 w
This is wrong.we are risking our lives of we don't act sooner and deal with the issue of climate change sooner.
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5 w
This is not right, why should Azerbaijan be green washing the world
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5 w
This is undermining genuine discussions about the country’s climate policies and human rights record.
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5 w
This kind of social media fraud is very appaling and should be called out. Genuine conversations and impressions need to be seen and not inflated unreal support from bots and fishy characters.
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5 w
These actions risk turning platforms that should be spaces for meaningful dialogue into echo chambers for state propaganda.