Social Media Intelligence and Wildlife Crime: A Bibliometric Analysis from Web of Science

Abstract

This paper analyses the use of Social Media Intelligence (SMI) as a tool in the fight against wildlife crime, with an emphasis on illegal animal trafficking on digital platforms.  This is a descriptive study based on a quantitative approach. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Web of Science database, complemented by a quantitative analysis of data extracted from the European Union project ECO-SOLVE platform and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) platform, to identify the main patterns of action of traffickers on social networks.  The results show a growing number of research studies interested in applying digital tools to track and prevent illegal animal trafficking, with a predominance of scientific publications in the areas of environmental sciences and criminology. The results also indicate the use of digital social networks by criminals, with Facebook standing out as the main platform for disseminating ads.  The Scopus database was not included in the analysis, and so the inability to access specific data may have restricted the scope of the research. The conclusion highlights that SMI is a promising approach to monitoring and combating wildlife trafficking. It emphasizes originality by suggesting that maximizing its effectiveness requires integrated and ethical action between institutions, authorities, and digital platforms.