Security forces in Africa and the Middle East use fake social media accounts to repress LGBTQ+ people

In Africa and the Middle East, security forces use Facebook, Instagram and the dating app Grindr to spy on, abuse and repress LGBTQ+ people, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

HRW found evidence of harassment of LGBTQ+ people via social media in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Tunisia, interviewing 90 victims and 30 experts.

According to the report, security forces in these countries monitor social networks and create fake profiles on Facebook or Grindr to impersonate LGBTQ+ women and “trap” other users.

In addition, security forces illegally search the personal devices of LGBTQ+ people to collect private information, on the basis of which they then open a case for prosecution. “Evidence” can include photographs, WhatsApp chats and LGBTQ+ dating apps such as Grindr. People are forced to unlock their devices under pressure, beatings and threats of violence.

Human Rights Watch emphasizes that harassment of LGBTQ+ people through social networks is possible due to their legal uncertainty in the countries included in the report. Online surveillance has been accompanied by the criminalization of same-sex relationships and vague notions of “morality” and “debauchery” in Africa and the Middle East.