Meta has announced the removal of hundreds of Facebook accounts associated with six covert influence operations from several countries, including China, Iran, and Israel.
According to the tech giant, these secret operations used artificial intelligence-generated content to spread disinformation and manipulate public opinion.
Meta faces allegations of discrimination and bias against Palestinians in a lawsuit filed by its former engineer, Ferras Hamad. NOAH BERGER/AFP via Getty Images
Meta on Manipulating Political Agendas
Meta said these deceptive networks used AI to promote specific political agendas and create the illusion of widespread support for certain viewpoints.
The company's efforts to crack down on these operations underscore the ongoing battle social media platforms face in maintaining the integrity of online discussions and preventing the spread of disinformation.
According to Meta's latest quarterly adversarial threat report released on Wednesday, these campaigns aimed to manipulate political discourse and fabricate a broader appearance of support for certain viewpoints. Some of the campaigns promoted political narratives on current events, including pro-Israel content from both Israeli and Iranian sources.
The campaigns also used Instagram accounts to sway global political agendas. Originating from countries including Bangladesh and Croatia, these networks employed fake accounts to support political movements, promote phony news outlets, and comment on posts by legitimate news organizations.
AI-Driven Influence Campaigns From China and Israel
One network, originating in China, comprised several dozen Instagram and Facebook accounts, pages, and groups aimed at targeting global Sikh communities, according to Meta. Another campaign, traced back to Israel, involved over 500 Facebook and Instagram accounts.
These accounts impersonated local Jewish students, African Americans, and "concerned" citizens, posting content that praised Israeli military actions and discussed campus antisemitism, among other topics.
Meta reported that some content from these two networks was likely produced using generative AI tools. The China-based network shared AI-generated images, while the Israeli campaign posted AI-generated comments.
According to Meta, these AI-driven influence campaigns currently lack the sophistication to bypass existing detection systems. Influence campaigns are frequently identified on social media platforms.
In early May, TikTok announced it had detected and dismantled a dozen such networks, including one linked to China. These campaigns often aim to manipulate public opinion by spreading misleading information or pushing specific political agendas through coordinated accounts and posts.
TikTok's efforts highlight the ongoing challenge social media companies face in identifying and combating these sophisticated operations to ensure the integrity of online discourse.
In March, TikTok revealed it had shut down 52 accounts from Ukraine with a combined 2.6 million followers. These accounts targeted Ukrainian users with content supporting Ukraine, aiming to influence conversations about the ongoing conflict with Russia.
The report also highlighted similar efforts in countries like Indonesia, Venezuela, Germany, and Iran, where TikTok users tried to sway political discussions. TikTok also mentioned plans to address campaigns that had been removed in the past but were attempting to return to the platform.
