The Internet at War: An Empirical and Legal Analysis of Harmful Narratives on Social Media During Armed Conflict

Authors

• Bailey Ulbricht, Stanford UniversityFollow
• Allen Weiner, Stanford UniversityFollow

Abstract

This Article empirically investigates the connection between harmful narratives on social media and violent acts perpetrated against persons protected under international humanitarian law (IHL) during armed conflict, and then examines the legal implications of such a relationship. First, examining comprehensive datasets from two inter-state armed conflicts (Russia-Ukraine and Armenia-Azerbaijan) as case studies, this Article documents patterns in Telegram data indicating that more violent acts are preceded by increases in harmful narratives than decreases in such content. This suggests that harmful narratives on social media platforms may plausibly contribute to the incidence of real-world violence committed against protected persons during armed conflict. Assuming such a relationship exists, this Article then identifies the legal implications under three relevant bodies of law, arguing that creators and disseminators of such narratives may be in violation of international or domestic law because such content can foreseeably lead to violence. The Article concludes with several policy recommendations for stakeholders, including belligerents, regulating states, social media companies, and humanitarian actors, mapping out a series of actionable steps that could reduce harm against protected persons in conflict settings. Scholars and policymakers must do more to minimize the potential for harm that social media content presents in armed conflict settings.

Recommended Citation

Bailey Ulbricht & Allen Weiner, The Internet at War: An Empirical and Legal Analysis of Harmful Narratives on Social Media During Armed Conflict, 32 Mich. Tech. L. Rev. 275 (2026).
Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mtlr/vol32/iss2/6