Social Network Analysis

Disinformation in Cote d'Ivoire .

Analysis And Key Takeaways

The following were the key takeaways after three months of monitoring social media and disinformation trends in Côte d’Ivoire.

1. We identified that several key events in the country led to significant spikes in social media conversations and were subject to mis/disinformation campaigns.
2. We also noted that the three major platforms used to publicly disseminate information were WhatsApp, Telegram and Facebook.
3. Pro-Russian & pro-(former Ivorian President Laurent) Gbagbo disinformation networks pushed claims that leaders/elites are faking Covid-19 vaccination to drive the adoption of the vaccination drive.
4. The shift from mainstream social media channels to ‘dark socials’ highlighting Covid-19 disinformation narratives. Following the intense scrutiny done on public social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, disinformation actors are redirecting users to closed and encrypted platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram, to evade scrutiny.
5. Covid-19 narratives and conspiracy theories are taking hold in WhatsApp groups and most of them are foreign or imported disinformation. Some of the claims identified from tracking WhatsApp through local in-country sentinels include: claims that Covid-19 is not airborne; that Covid-19 vaccines contain harmful components including HIV/malaria & nanoparticles; that AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine causes widespread blood clotting disorders; that micro-magnetic particles have been infused into Covid-19 vaccines; claims of fake Covid-19 vaccinations and “disappearing” needles; and, that Covid-19 vaccines have led to the deaths of recipients.

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