Day to fight wildlife violations in cyberspace

According to theEducation for Nature (ENV), while some platforms are working to cooperate and quickly remove violations, violations on Facebook are becoming increasingly common in Vietnam. ENV data shows that violations related to wildlife on Facebook account for more than 95% of all violations on the Internet. In the past year, ENV recorded 206,927 live animals, parts, and other products from wildlife for sale on Facebook alone.

It is time to put an end to this situation. In order for each citizen to play an important role in forcing an end to the rampant illegal wildlife trade on this platform, from February 2025, every third Wednesday of the month, ENV has set aside a day to coordinate with volunteers and citizens to join hands to reduce wildlife-related violations on social media platforms.

On the third Wednesday of February - the first month of the campaign - ENV released the short film “Facebook - Wake Up!” exposing the alarming truth that by failing to detect and handle reported violations, social media platforms have been unwittingly facilitating wildlife trafficking. Every posting of wildlife for sale on social media promotes the hunting, killing and smuggling of wildlife.

Updated on May 15, ENV said that after three months of launching the campaign "Day to fight wildlife violations on cyberspace", it has recorded very positive results with 10 groups specializing in selling wildlife being permanently removed, meaning that 101,088 member accounts are no longer able to access, share or buy and sell wildlife products from these groups.

“The results in the past three months have been very encouraging. With a large number of reports sent in at the same time, Facebook had to take more drastic actions and permanently delete a number of large wildlife trading groups that were complained about. Each individual participating in the campaign has contributed to this significant change. Little by little, we can act together to gradually eliminate the wildlife “black market” on cyberspace,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, Deputy Director of ENV. According to Ms. Dung, the “Day to fight wildlife violations on cyberspace” in May will take place on May 21, 2025.

Illustration photo: According to ENV, violations related to wildlife are occurring more and more on social networks. Source ENV

ENV calls on each citizen and community to continue participating in the “Day to fight against wildlife violations in cyberspace” by: Joining the ENV Facebook group “Team to fight against wildlife violations in cyberspace”; Accessing the link shared by ENV to see the list of accounts/groups violating each month; Reporting directly on social networks; Sharing information to spread the campaign.

“On the same day every month, hundreds, even thousands of people will join in complaining about 10-15 accounts, pages and groups that violate the above. With such a large number of reports, the social networking platform Facebook will be forced to take action and seriously consider violations by permanently blocking these accounts and groups.

“Participating in the “Day to Fight Wildlife Violations in Cyberspace” is contributing to protecting thousands of wildlife individuals from the risk of being hunted, killed and illegally traded. Each individual will create this great change,” ENV called.

Minh Duong

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ngay-dau-tranh-voi-cac-vi-pham-ve-dong-vat-hoang-da-tren-khong-gian-mang-post548483.html