Meta responds to Chinese propaganda threat ahead of 2024 US election
- In Reports
- 11:35 AM, Dec 01, 2023
- Myind Staff
Meta disclosed that it had removed numerous Facebook accounts originating from China. These accounts were allegedly posing as Americans, participating in discussions on contentious topics like abortion and healthcare, as reported by CNN.
The tech giant issued a caution regarding "foreign threat actors seeking to influence audiences" in anticipation of the 2024 US election. These deceptive accounts replicated social media posts word-for-word from figures on both sides of the political spectrum, including Republicans like presidential candidate Ron DeSantis and Democrats such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
While Meta refrained from attributing the network to a particular entity in China, the incident aligns with a broader pattern of heightened Chinese propaganda directed at American audiences. This occurrence arises amidst escalating concerns regarding potential foreign influence in the upcoming 2024 presidential election, as reported by CNN.
Additionally, the report highlighted that efforts by US national security officials to identify foreign influence operations on social media platforms were halted due to a legal challenge. Meta executives confirmed that government agencies had not shared information concerning foreign election interference since July. The case is scheduled to be addressed by the US Supreme Court, adding to the complexities surrounding this issue.
Prior to the court case, Nathaniel Gleicher, Meta's Head of Security Policy, informed reporters that on numerous occasions, tips from the government had empowered them to swiftly counter covert foreign influence operations.
Meta successfully dismantled the Chinese network before it could attract any real users to its apps. Ben Nimmo, Meta's global threat intelligence lead, underscored the most noteworthy shift in the threat landscape compared to 2020. He pointed out a marked rise in Chinese online influence operations globally over the past year, targeting audiences worldwide. The company emphasized the evolving threat scenario, highlighting a significant departure from the situation in 2020.
Meanwhile, the interference by Russia in the 2016 US elections demonstrated the deployment of trolls and bots to magnify divisions. Traditionally, China steered clear of such direct tactics. However, recent occurrences, such as the utilization of AI-generated images and a substantial online disinformation operation, indicate a notable shift in China's approach.
According to a recent CNN investigation into court documents and public disclosures by social media companies, the Chinese government has amassed the world's largest known online disinformation operation. This operation is reportedly used to harass US residents, politicians, and businesses, occasionally resorting to threats of violence against its targets.
In the face of these findings, China consistently refutes accusations of hosting troll farms on its soil. Concerns endure about Meta's trajectory despite its endeavors to safeguard elections. Notably, reported layoffs in the team dedicated to countering misinformation and Meta's choice to permit political ads questioning the outcome of the 2020 presidential election on its platforms have raised apprehensions, as per CNN's report.
Image source: ANI
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