Humanitarian Futures for Messaging Apps

On 31 January 2017, the International Committee of the Red Cross will launch a report on ‘Humanitarian Futures for Messaging Apps’. The report looks into how people affected by armed conflicts around the world (internally displaced people, refugees, or migrants) are using messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Snapchat, and how some humanitarian organisations are currently interacting with these communication channels.

The report points to the fact that messaging apps have great potential to make a positive impact in situations of crisis, but that they can also introduce risks around security, data protection, and privacy. Humanitarian organisations need to better understand both opportunities and risks in order to develop responsible, effective, and safe ways to use messaging apps to meet people’s needs. 

This report has been prepared with support from an advisory group that includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), and the World Food Programme (WFP). 

In addition to the lanch of the report, the even will also feature a panel discussion with invited speakers. More details are available on the event webpage.

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