Social media manipulation as a political tool is spreading: https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2019/09/30/social-media-manipulation-as-a-political-tool-is-spreading/ #SE #InfoSec
"The use of computational propaganda to shape public attitudes via social media has become mainstream, extending far beyond the actions of a few bad actors. In an information environment characterized by high volumes of information and limited levels of user attention and trust, the tools and techniques of computational propaganda are becoming a common – and arguably essential – part of digital campaigning and public diplomacy."
Some key findings from the report:
- 87% of countries use human-controlled accounts
- 80% of countries use bot accounts
- 11% of countries use cyborg accounts
- 7% of countries use hacked/stolen accounts
- 71% of these accounts spread pro-government or pro-party propaganda
- 89% attack the opposition or mount smear campaigns
- 34% spread polarizing messages designed to drive divisions within society
- 75% of countries used disinformation and media manipulation to mislead users
- 68% of countries use state-sponsored trolling to target political dissidents, the opposition or journalists
- 73% amplify messages and content by flooding hashtags