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Facebook removed over 350 accounts, pages, and groups linked to a Saudi government influence campaign. This was FB’s first takedown linked to the Saudi gov. The operation built on tactics pioneered by others: newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/08/c…
The Saudi network employed inauthentic personas to engage with foreign audiences on key issues (like the conflict in Yemen), including by posing as local news outlets in target countries: cnn.com/2019/08/01/tec…
This tactic was used by the Russian Internet Research Agency (IRA), which constructed a network of fake local news outlets ahead of the 2016 U.S. election: securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/twitter-releas…
Iran-linked information operations have also spoofed new outlets to spread false narratives. One such operation mimicked the websites of popular Western outlets, including: The Guardian, Bloomberg, Foreign Policy, the Atlantic, and Politico. citizenlab.ca/2019/05/burned…
The recent Saudi disinfo operation seemed to have a substantial following – though it is impossible to determine if its followers were real or purchased accounts. FB reported that more than 1.4 million people followed one of the fake pages.
Platforms should prioritize transparency and institutionalize mechanisms to share more info on takedowns w/ researchers and the public. Exposure of operations is key to inoculating users against the effects of info ops. securingdemocracy.gmfus.org/a-long-way-to-…
