State Sponsored Internet Propaganda Around the World

State-sponsored Internet propaganda is a widespread phenomenon, with many countries using various tactics to shape public opinion and influence online discourse.

In China, the government has been accused of using fake social media accounts to promote its propaganda and suppress dissent. This is just one example of how states are leveraging the internet to spread their message.

The Russian government has also been known to use bots and trolls to sway public opinion on social media platforms. These tactics are often difficult to detect and can be highly effective in shaping online conversations.

In the United States, the government has been accused of using propaganda to influence public opinion on issues like healthcare and national security.

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In Europe, state-sponsored internet propaganda is a concerning issue. Belarus has seen a significant increase in disinformation, with the Lukashenko Government spreading false information to blame neighboring countries, Poland and Ukraine, for problems in the country.

In Bulgaria, internet trolls have been a problem since the 2010s, with various political parties using troll armies to attack and threaten each other. This issue remains unaddressed and has intensified under the corruption of Boyko Borisov's government.

In France, Facebook alleged in December 2020 that accounts linked to the French military were posing as Africans to promote views in favor of France. These accounts interacted with alleged Russian accounts.

Here are some examples of state-sponsored internet propaganda in Europe:

In Asia-Pacific, the use of paid Internet commenters is a notable trend. China's 50 Cent Party and Internet Water Army are examples of this phenomenon.

The 50 Cent Party, a group in China, is known for influencing public opinion online. This group's activities have been reported in various contexts.

Taiwan's 1450 Internet army is another example of a group using paid commenters to shape public opinion. Their methods have been studied by researchers.

These groups often use tactics like flooding online forums and social media with comments to sway public opinion. Their efforts can be quite effective.

Here's a list of some of the notable groups in the Asia-Pacific region:

Europe is a continent where the spread of disinformation has become a significant concern. In Belarus, the Lukashenko Government has taken steps to spread disinformation in line with his rule, sometimes aligning with Russian troll propaganda.

The situation in Bulgaria is equally concerning, with internet trolls becoming a problem since the 2010s. Various political parties have used troll armies to attack and threaten each other.

In France, Facebook has alleged that accounts linked to the French military have been posing as Africans in French and Arabic language websites. These accounts promoted views in favor of France and interacted with alleged Russian accounts.

Poland's freedom of media has suffered significant deterioration since the election of Andrzej Duda to the presidency in the 2010s. State-sponsored Internet media aligned to the conservative movement have attacked liberal groups and criticized European leaders.

A troll farm group aligned to the conservative movement was discovered in Wrocław in 2019. The Polish government was accused of spreading propaganda to manipulate public opinion and enhance authoritarian rule.

However, in the 2023 Polish parliamentary elections, the Pis majority government was ousted, and a new ruling liberal coalition was established. This has partially depoliticized public media.

Here's a list of countries in Europe where disinformation has been a concern:

It's worth noting that the spread of disinformation in Europe is a complex issue, involving various mechanisms such as psychological, computational, economic, and media and politics.

In the Americas, the use of bots for political purposes is a concerning trend. The Mexican government has been accused of using "spam-bots" to target journalists and spread misinformation.

In Mexico, these government-sponsored bots have been used to influence public opinion. In the United States, there is less information available about the use of bots for political purposes, but it's likely that similar tactics are being employed.

Venezuela's Bolivarian Army of Trolls, founded in 2017, is a prime example of a government-backed disinformation campaign. The army has five squads: pro-government, opponents, neutrals, distraction, and fake news.

Here's a breakdown of the different squads and their goals:

State-sponsored Internet propaganda often employs various types of disinformation to achieve its goals.

Fabricated news articles are a common tactic, as seen in the example of the Russian troll farm that created fake news articles about the US presidential election. This type of disinformation can be particularly effective in shaping public opinion.

Social media bots are also used to spread disinformation, with some studies estimating that up to 70% of Twitter bots are created by state-sponsored actors. These bots can create a false sense of public opinion on a particular issue.

Deepfakes, which use AI to create realistic but false videos or audio recordings, are another form of disinformation being used by state-sponsored actors.

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Hostile disinformation is a type of disinformation that is intentionally created to deceive and manipulate people. It's often spread through social media and can have serious consequences.

This type of disinformation is usually spread by individuals or groups with a vested interest in promoting a particular agenda or ideology. For example, propaganda campaigns often use hostile disinformation to sway public opinion.

Hostile disinformation can take many forms, including fake news, conspiracy theories, and manipulated images or videos. It's designed to be convincing and persuasive, making it difficult for people to distinguish from fact.

In some cases, hostile disinformation is used to incite violence or hatred towards a particular group. This can have devastating consequences, such as fueling ethnic or religious conflicts.

The spread of hostile disinformation can be rapid and widespread, making it difficult to contain. It often relies on social media platforms, which can be slow to respond to such content.

Homegrown disinformation is a serious issue that threatens EU democracy. This type of disinformation can reach a vast audience due to social networks' recommendation algorithms. Domestic sources of disinformation, such as political parties and national governments, are often overlooked. Increasingly centralised state-media empires threaten European media pluralism. Attacks against independent media are also a concern.

Disinformation can promote negative narratives about certain groups and civil society in general. It discredits the work of NGOs and academia, who are frequently targeted for online attacks and campaigns that spread false information. A resilient democracy needs a free flow of information and multiple competing narratives. This is why it's imperative to address trends contrary to this principle.

State-sponsored Internet propaganda involves strict regulation of content. Bloggers are required to post at least 50 times a day on news articles, with a minimum of 700 characters during day shifts and 1,000 characters at night.

The use of graphics and keywords is mandatory in both the post's body and headline. Bloggers are also provided with technical tasks, including keywords and talking points on specific issues like Ukraine, Russia's internal opposition, and relations with the West.

To maintain their online presence, bloggers are expected to manage multiple social media accounts, posting at least three times a day on Facebook and discussing news in groups at least twice a day. They're also required to win 500 subscribers and get at least five posts on each item a day on Facebook.

The methods used by Russian troll networks are quite revealing. They have strict guidelines for blog posts, requiring at least 700 characters during day shifts and 1,000 characters on night shifts.

Bloggers are also given technical tasks, such as keywords and talking points on specific issues like Ukraine, Russia's internal opposition, and relations with the West.

To meet these demands, bloggers are expected to post on news articles 50 times a day. They must also maintain six Facebook accounts, publishing at least three posts a day and discussing the news in groups twice a day.

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By the end of the first month, they're expected to have won 500 subscribers and get at least five posts on each item a day. This is a lot of activity, and it's no wonder that some people have suggested that Russian troll networks may be operating on Reddit, inundating certain boards with posts about Ukraine.

In 2015, Lawrence Alexander disclosed a network of propaganda websites sharing the same Google Analytics identifier and domain registration details, allegedly run by Nikita Podgorny from Internet Research Agency.

These websites focused on attacking Ukraine, Euromaidan, Russian opposition, and Western policies, and also promoted president Putin and Russian nationalism.

Russian researchers correlated Google search statistics of specific phrases with their geographic origin, observing increases in specific politically loaded phrases starting from 2013 and originating from very small locations in Russia.

The Internet Research Agency appears to be the primary sponsor of an anti-Western exhibition Material Evidence.

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Since 2015, Finnish reporter Jessikka Aro has inquired into web brigades and Russian trolls.

In May 2019, a study from the George Washington University found that Russian Twitter bots tried to inflame the United States' anti-vaccination debate by posting opinions on both sides in 2018.

In June 2019, a group of 12 editors introducing coordinated pro-government and anti-opposition bias was blocked on the Russian-language Wikipedia.

Two operatives of the Internet Research Agency were detained in Libya and charged with attempting to influence local elections in July 2019.

In 2020, the research firm Graphika published a report detailing one particular Russian disinformation group codenamed "Secondary Infektion" operating since 2014.

This group published over 2,500 items in seven languages and to over 300 platforms such as social media and discussion forums over 6 years.

Starting in February 2022, a special attempt was made to back the Russian war in Ukraine, with a particular effort to target Facebook and YouTube.

In Russia, the Internet Research Agency (IRA) was involved in spreading propaganda to influence the 2016 US presidential election. They created fake social media accounts to spread divisive content.

The IRA's tactics were successful, with over 100 million people interacting with their content. This is a stark reminder of the reach and impact of state-sponsored propaganda.

Russian operatives used Facebook and Instagram to target specific demographics and create fake events. For example, they created a Facebook event for a rally in New York City that drew hundreds of people.

In China, the government has implemented the "Great Firewall" to block access to foreign websites and social media platforms. This is part of a broader effort to control the flow of information and suppress dissent.

Chinese authorities have also been known to hack into the computers of dissidents and activists. This is a chilling example of the lengths to which governments will go to silence their critics.

Iran has used social media to spread propaganda and disinformation, often targeting Iranian citizens who are critical of the government. The Iranian government has also been accused of hacking into the computers of opposition groups.

Iranian operatives have used Twitter to spread propaganda and create fake accounts that appear to be from real people. This is a sophisticated tactic that can be difficult to detect.

The use of state-sponsored propaganda is a growing concern, with many countries engaging in this type of activity. It's a complex issue that requires a nuanced approach to address.