WhoDis: who’s driving polarisation and why?

Justice for Prosperity

Justice for Prosperity is a globally active non-profit headquartered in Amsterdam. Jelle previously worked for the Netherlands’ General Intelligence and Security Service, the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, and the UN in New York. "It’s increasingly common to see groups and topics weaponised to spread fear. Fear and identity are vehicles for securing power and money." Against that background, Justice for Prosperity aims to provide protection and insight for groups that are often targeted, such as the LGBTQ community, women and migrants. Who is behind the attacks, how does the mechanism work, and what interests are involved? The organisation uses a combination of open-source intelligence (OSINT) and field work to find answers.

WhoDis

WhoDis is the tangible expression of that approach: a tool that follows online arguments, hate waves and polarising topics across multiple platforms. Using a slider bar, the user can then go back in time, from the great mass of posts, through influencers and multipliers, to the original fire-starter. "Once we know the origin, we can work out who’s pulling the strings: whose interests does the polarisation serve?" explains Jelle. "Our work focuses on 4 main groups: extremists and influencers who illuminate fear; a political layer who exploit that fear for electoral gain; ultra-conservative (often religious) organisations with long-term agendas; and big money with a vested interest in deregulation. WhoDis reveals that chain of influence and the interests and cashflows involved. For example, when we studied what was happening in Ivory Coast, we discovered that a single hate post triggered cash flows towards Russia within an hour."

Support from SIDN Fund

According to Jelle, the support provided by SIDN Fund has been decisive. "We wouldn’t be where we are now without SIDN Fund. Their financial assistance enabled us to automate the basis of WhoDis, so we can detect cross-platform polarisation and quickly explain our findings in the media and in public debate. The faith they showed in us has had a positive effect as well, providing an extra incentive to push on. The Fund’s network has been valuable too. Through the network, we’ve come into contact with experts working in our field, and with other NGOs running similar projects. For example, we’re exploring the possibility of collaborating with the Institute for Sound and Vision in Hilversum."

Mieke van Heesewijk, SIDN Fund: "With the WhoDis project, Justice for Prosperity is helping to build a more transparent digital domain, where citizens are better informed about the origins and dynamics of online polarisation. SIDN Fund is supporting the initiative because it uses an innovative approach to help us understand how toxic narratives emerge, and what interests lie behind them. By revealing the mechanisms involved, the project is reinforcing citizens’ digital autonomy and contributing to a resilient, well-informed society."

What next?

Understanding where a hate wave comes from is all very well, but how can that knowledge be put to practical use? "Publication is rarely the first thing we do," explains Jelle. "First, you decide what you want to achieve. If you want to put a stop to what’s happening, you may need to hang on to your information for a while, buying time to secure your evidence and build a picture of the networks and cash flows involved. Sometimes, you use your findings to warn and inform the public. In the Netherlands, that’s now done for elections, in collaboration with the Resilient Democracy Foundation. The tensions remain problematic, especially where shocking cases are concerned (as in Ivory Coast). Often, you achieve most by initially keeping quiet and working purposefully. Our objective isn’t publicity; it’s stopping polarisation."