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The new battlefield in mining: digital threats, disinformation, and reputation risk

March 2025
 by Jess Shelver

The new battlefield in mining: digital threats, disinformation, and reputation risk

March 2025
 By Jess Shelver

As the African Mining Indaba 2025 conference in Cape Town closes for another year, one thing is clear: the risks facing the mining industry are evolving. The threats are no longer just underground, they are online, weaponised, and capable of destabilising businesses, economies, and even governments in an instant.

A key takeaway from this year’s conference, (a pivotal event for mining professionals, investors, and industry leaders), was the growing recognition of the digital battleground. While many industry leaders are aware of potential online threats, they have previously regarded them as quasi risks. This perception is changing rapidly. Conversations during the week revealed a new level of urgency, as businesses now understand that disinformation campaigns pose an existential threat to their operations, investments, and reputations. The need to address these challenges is no longer optional, it is critical.

At the same time, digitisation has delivered immense benefits to Africa and the mining industry. From improved operational efficiencies to enhanced transparency and community engagement, digital tools have unlocked new opportunities for growth and sustainability. However, as with any powerful tool, in the wrong hands, digitisation can be weaponised. The same platforms that enable communication and innovation are also being exploited to spread disinformation, manipulate public sentiment, and destabilise operations.

While traditional geopolitical risks remain a significant challenge, digital disinformation has emerged as a formidable force, capable of derailing investments, shifting public sentiment, and eroding corporate reputations. In today’s landscape, a mine can be shut down as easily by an online falsehood as by an on-the-ground security breach. Sometimes these online falsehoods can also lead to on-the-ground security breaches.

Disinformation: the silent risk to mining investments

Africa, with its 600 million internet users and 400 million social media users, has become a prime battleground for digital manipulation. Over 60% of disinformation campaigns in Africa are state-sponsored, primarily led by global powers seeking to control strategic resources, disrupt Western influence, and destabilise governments for economic gain.

A new wave of digital influence is emerging, as various regional actors seek to shape narratives, secure trade advantages, and influence policymaking. These efforts range from state-backed media investments to covert disinformation campaigns aimed at shifting economic and political alignments in resource-rich regions.

One prominent state-sponsored influence campaign is reportedly responsible for 40% of documented misinformation operations in West Africa. These campaigns have actively promoted military coups, displaced pro-Western governments, and manipulated public perception against foreign investors. Take Burkina Faso, for example, where state-backed disinformation fuelled anti-French sentiment, resulting in two military coups in one year. The outcome? The expulsion of French forces and the entry of security firms aligned with state interests, along with their affiliated mining ventures.

In contrast to the chaotic approach of the first campaign, another state-sponsored strategy focuses on influence and control. This effort has embedded itself in Africa’s media landscape by funding news networks, training journalists, and shaping public discourse. Its state news agency now operates 37 bureaus across Africa, more than any other foreign media organisation, ensuring that narratives align with its economic interests, particularly in the mining sector.

When online disinformation becomes a real-world crisis

The Montepuez Ruby Mine incident in Mozambique is a case in point. In October 2024, a false social media post, likely initiated by illegal ruby smugglers, claimed the mine would allow free public mining for 24 hours. This digital deception quickly escalated into a real-world crisis, with:

  • 300 people storming the mine
  • violent clashes resulting in multiple casualties
  • a three-month operational shutdown, costing millions in lost revenue

This is the new reality – misinformation doesn’t stay online. It moves rapidly from the digital sphere to the physical world, disrupting operations and causing reputational and financial damage.

Protecting mining investments in the digital age

At the African Mining Indaba conference this February, we hosted two roundtable events about our work in identifying, countering, and neutralising digital risks before they escalate. Just as mining firms secure their physical assets, they must now adopt a proactive approach to securing their digital presence.

So how do we do this?

1. Digital risk intelligence

Disinformation campaigns often begin as inorganic efforts, driven by bot networks, synthetic media, and paid influencers, but can quickly gain organic traction. Our proprietary technology detects co-ordinated digital attacks early, tracking misinformation trends and identifying artificial amplification before they escalate.

2. Online narrative management

We ensure that accurate and positive information about mining operations is visible and accessible across key digital channels. By shaping the conversation, we help companies maintain credibility, protect investments, and counter misinformation before it gains traction.

3. Rolling threat monitoring

We continuously monitor digital risks to protect against:

  • co-ordinated disinformation attacks
  • hostile takeovers and regulatory manipulation
  • activist shareholder pressure

4. Online reputation management

How a company is perceived online matters. Our approach includes auditing digital footprints, mitigating reputational risks, and ensuring that search engine results align with corporate messaging. In an age where a single viral falsehood can alter regulatory and investment landscapes, maintaining control over online narratives is paramount.

Online reputation management also plays a crucial role in addressing the organic traction gained by initially inorganic disinformation campaigns. By strategically countering false narratives, we work to reduce the visibility and impact of misinformation that has gained legitimacy through widespread public sharing. By proactively managing digital reputations, we help mining firms ensure that misleading or damaging content does not define their online presence.

The dual approach: ground war and air war

What is evident from the conversations at the African Mining Indaba conference, is that mining companies must adopt a dual approach, securing both their physical and digital assets, to withstand evolving threats.

If mining companies are only protecting what lies beneath the surface, they are leaving everything above it exposed. The question isn’t whether they will be targeted, but whether they are prepared when they are. Because in today’s world, if you don’t control your narrative, someone else will.

Are you ready?

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