Facebook recently put forward a paper recognizing the existence of information operations on the popular social networking site. Much of its rather technical analysis confirms what we already know about pro-Kremlin disinformation.
Facebook says that information operations on their platform have three steps:
● targeted collection of non-public data to expose information that can have an impact on public discourse;
● creation of content reflecting this information, either spreading stories to the press or generating stories and images for online use;
● coordinated activity by fake Facebook accounts to amplify content online, including the creation of fake grassroots groups as well as trolling, i.e. fake accounts spamming the comments section on Facebook pages.
What does Facebook intend to do about the problem?
As a first step, Facebook promises to help users protect their accounts better and recommends that election campaigns pay particular attention to cyber security. But the real deal is in the action against fake accounts and false amplification of compromised stories. The engineers have observed that “most false amplification in the context of information operations is not driven by automated processes but by coordinated people who are dedicated to operating inauthentic accounts.” This is because the online activity presupposes “people with language skills and a basic knowledge of the political situation in the target countries.” Read also: How Russian propaganda uses Facebook This reminds us of the reporting about a pro-Kremlin “troll factory” in St. Petersburg where employees are paid to leave comments in online fora and on social media. Facebook targets these via the “authenticity of the accounts in question and their behaviors, not the content of the material created,” for example by detecting repeated posting of the same content and unusual increases in the volume of content creation. The organization claims that it has taken action against over 30,000 fake accounts in France. It provides, in any case, the possibility for its users to report fake profiles. Read also: Russia’s low-tech trolls in high-power western information space At the same time, the social media organization says it supports wider efforts to promote quality journalism through its Facebook journalism project, which seems primarily to focus on helping quality news organizations increase their reach and revenues on the platform, and through collaboration with fact checkers for doubtful Facebook content. Read also: Inside the Kremlin’s media machineFacebook has taken action against over 30,000 fake accounts in France.
This article was originally published on euvsdisinfo.eu.
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