G5iO #AfghanLeaks| Disinformation & Propaganda Campaign to Sabotage Afghan Peace Process
As a flagship study, G5iO undertook data analytics to deconstruct coordinated disinformation & Info-Ops being undertaken by both India & Afghanistan to derail Afghan Peace Process [Thread]
As a flagship study, G5iO undertook data analytics to deconstruct coordinated disinformation & Info-Ops being undertaken by both India & Afghanistan to derail Afghan Peace Process [Thread]
Evidence indicates extensive use of bots, coordinated network behaviour and fake news pushed across @Twitter from sources linked to Afghanistan and Indian state machinery.
The frequency and intensity of these campaigns increased dramatically over the last 3 months once:
•US announced a final withdrawal date
•The Taliban gained military victories
•US announced a final withdrawal date
•The Taliban gained military victories
Methodology:
•Twitter data was scraped from May 2020 – Aug 2021
•The data indicated key narratives, networks and user accounts running disinformation operations
•Twitter data was scraped from May 2020 – Aug 2021
•The data indicated key narratives, networks and user accounts running disinformation operations
•Insights were developed using comparative analysis of online hashtag activity with offline political and regional security events
•Artificial activity was defined as any activity from accounts engaged in platform manipulation, recently created and pushing inorganic content
•Artificial activity was defined as any activity from accounts engaged in platform manipulation, recently created and pushing inorganic content
Key narratives:
Key narratives indicate coordinated disinformation campaign led by India & Afghanistan targeting Pakistan Army, fanning ethnic nationalism, spreading fake news over FATF, & blaming Pakistan for the current crisis in Afghanistan
Key narratives indicate coordinated disinformation campaign led by India & Afghanistan targeting Pakistan Army, fanning ethnic nationalism, spreading fake news over FATF, & blaming Pakistan for the current crisis in Afghanistan
Timeline:
The data visualized through a timeline maps how the targeted campaign against Pakistan has been carefully choreographed & timed to sabotage & discredit Pakistan's efforts for peace in Afghanistan.
It also shows attempts to destabilize Pakistan through fake news
The data visualized through a timeline maps how the targeted campaign against Pakistan has been carefully choreographed & timed to sabotage & discredit Pakistan's efforts for peace in Afghanistan.
It also shows attempts to destabilize Pakistan through fake news
Details of Coordinated Network Activity:
The following highlights how most of these campaigns comprised:
• Of known state-linked accounts
• Of a considerable level of artificial activity
The following highlights how most of these campaigns comprised:
• Of known state-linked accounts
• Of a considerable level of artificial activity
Sample of Content propagated:
The following hashtags & tweets present just a glimpse of the kind of content & narratives being pushed by both Indian & Afghan sponsored content mills.
The following hashtags & tweets present just a glimpse of the kind of content & narratives being pushed by both Indian & Afghan sponsored content mills.
Case Study: The hashtag SanctionPakistan presents a good example.
•Used since 2016 by Indian backed propaganda accounts.
•Since June 2021, used as part of a coordinated propaganda campaign by the Afghan government
•Used more aggressively by India & Afg since US withdrawal
•Used since 2016 by Indian backed propaganda accounts.
•Since June 2021, used as part of a coordinated propaganda campaign by the Afghan government
•Used more aggressively by India & Afg since US withdrawal
The same hashtag was artificially pushed on 9th-10th August by mostly Indian & Afghan sponsored accounts to around 300k tweets out of which 60% was artificial activity.
Conclusion: Social Media is not just social media anymore, it has real-world consequences on societies & individuals, many that do not even have internet.
Ethical use of Social Media is pivotal for peace & prosperity globally. Fighting Disinformation, therefore, is critical.
Ethical use of Social Media is pivotal for peace & prosperity globally. Fighting Disinformation, therefore, is critical.
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