ID: 1729
Presenting Author: Erika Krajnc
Session: 740 - When misinformation spreads faster than facts: Social Strategies in LATAM
Status: approve
Transparent engagement, participatory monitoring, and co-design are critical social strategies to prevent misinformation, building trust and ensuring long-term success in LATAM mining projects
In Latin America, where information spreads rapidly through informal channels such as social media, building a transparent and credible narrative is not just good practice—it is essential for trust and resilience. Transparency and meaningful engagement help counter misinformation and strengthen relationships with local communities. Having dedicated teams on the ground is critical to address concerns proactively and demonstrate institutional commitment.
Participatory environmental monitoring—covering water, dust, and vibration—has proven highly effective in building trust when environmental concerns dominate. Involving community leaders, local authorities, and environmental agencies in these processes, including decisions on laboratory selection, enhances legitimacy and shared ownership.
Equally important are accessible and credible feedback mechanisms. Communities must know how to raise complaints and trust that responses will be timely and fair. Contrary to common perceptions, a high number of complaints signals that grievance systems are working, reducing the risk of disruptive actions such as road blockages.
Finally, co-designing medium- and long-term plans with communities ensures alignment with their priorities for social investment, economic development, and closure strategies. Sharing social baseline data is an excellent starting point. True co-design means collaboration at every stage—not simply validating pre-developed plans. While resource-intensive, this approach delivers outcomes that are socially robust and sustainable.
Erika Krajnc, CSP Regional Lead for Americas at Rio Tinto, brings over 15 years of experience in community engagement across mining and UN agencies in Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas