Meta said in a report that it shut down a Kremlin-led propaganda campaign on its social networks. Russia had been using Facebook and other networks to target European countries with fake news stories in an attempt to warp public opinion on the war in Ukraine.
The social media giant discovered a propaganda operation that involved hundreds of fake accounts and more than 60 fake news websites that sent readers links to Russian propaganda articles and posts. These fake accounts promoted disinformation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram, while the official channels of Russian embassies sought to legitimize the content.
Despite Meta’s success in this scenario, fake news continues to spread through social media like wildfire in the form of fabricated content, misleading information, and false context.
Social Media Used in Russian Cyberwar
Russia started its cyber invasion of Ukraine in February, but it didn’t limit its cyberwarfare to hacking attempts. Social media networks are part of the Kremlin’s worldwide propaganda campaign as Russian agents and supporters flock to spread conspiracy theories and fake claims about the war in Ukraine.
Accounts linked to the Russian government accused the US of developing bioweapons in Ukraine, blamed Ukraine for staging attacks, and portrayed the refugees as criminals. Also, do you remember that time when Russia tried to disconnect from the global internet? Me neither because I got lost in the following hundreds of fake or exaggerated news stories. But none of this is really surprising.
It all started in 2016 with the election of US president Donald Trump. The US intelligence committee reported that the Russian government used Facebook and other social media networks to interfere in the elections. Facebook confirmed at the time that millions of people viewed Moscow-backed ads that significantly contributed to political division and polarization. The same propaganda tactics with the aim to sow division and chaos in US society are used today in Europe.
Brian Murphy, an ex-intelligence chief of the Department of Homeland Security, said:
Even though Russia is fully involved in Ukraine in the military conflict, they’re able to do more than one thing at a time… They have never stopped their sophisticated disinformation operations.
Meta said that Russia launched its new propaganda campaign against Ukraine and its allies in May 2022. Its main targets were the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Ukraine, but other EU countries and the US have also been targeted with misinformation and conspiracy theories. Meta was able to automatically detect and ban fake accounts, but it discovered the Russian operation only in August when German journalists reported the rise of pro-Russian propaganda news sites and pages.
Despite dismantling the social media operation early on, Meta and other social media networks continue to struggle against misinformation. Russia doubles down against anyone who disagrees with its views. The goal is to stir up polarization and cause societal chaos.
Social Media Platforms Have too Much Influence
Millions of people use social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to get their news and stay informed. So, what happens when companies can’t control thousands of fake accounts that spread conspiracy theories and fake news reports? People get angry, afraid, and make questionable decisions. Social media holds too much power that has an impact on how you think and act.
Protect yourself from being influenced by propaganda and delete Facebook and your other social media accounts. These platforms have become battlegrounds for digital warfare. Your data and identity aren’t safe either, so start using a VPN.
CyberGhost VPN hides your IP address and protects your data with heavy encryption algorithms. Social media platforms manipulate their content feeds and lack transparency and accountability. Don’t become a victim and protect your digital freedoms.
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