Military Space News
CYBER WARS
China-based networks sowing disinformation in West: Meta
China-based networks sowing disinformation in West: Meta
by AFP Staff Writers
Hong Kong (AFP) May 4, 2023

A China-based online network tried to recruit protesters in Europe and set up a media firm in Britain as part of a disinformation campaign, Facebook owner Meta said.

The network's social media accounts -- which ranged from Facebook to YouTube, Telegram and Twitter -- pushed content focusing on incendiary political issues in Europe and the United States, according to Meta.

Meta said it had removed more than 100 Facebook pages, profiles and Instagram accounts linked to the network, accusing them of violating its policies against coordinated inauthentic behaviour.

Another 50 accounts linked to another China-based network had also been taken down, Meta said.

"These latest networks experimented with a range of tactics we haven't seen in China-based operations before," Meta said in its quarterly Adversarial Threat Report, published on Wednesday.

"The latest behaviours included creating a front media company in the West, hiring freelance writers around the world, offering to recruit protesters, and co-opting an NGO in Africa."

While Meta had taken down some of the accounts, much of the networks' content remains online.

On Twitter, an account named in the Meta report called New Europe Observation shared incendiary content attacking migrants to Europe and LGBT activists until as recently as April 28.

One tweet by the group from August last year said it was hiring "part-timers" to attend a protest in Hungary against billionaire philanthropist George Soros, a financier who is frequently a target of far-right conspiracy theories.

Some of its Twitter posts used viral tweets from far-right accounts.

Interspersed with the Europe-focused messaging was content pushing Beijing's line on its policies in China's western region of Xinjiang, where activists accuse authorities of detaining more than one million Uyghurs and other Muslims in forced re-education camps.

Another account that Meta said was run by the network focused more closely on divisive issues in the United States, including police brutality, crime and LGBT rights.

The network was run through a UK-based front company called London New Europe Ltd, Meta said, which company records and Google Maps showed operated out of a nondescript apartment building in northeast London.

The group sought to hire central Asian freelance writers to produce content, as well as "tried to engage individuals to record English-language videos scripted by the network", Meta said.

Meta said that, while the network took steps to conceal its origins and the identities of those involved, it had found links to a Chinese company called Xi'an Tianwendian Network Technology.

It also operated 9 am to 5 pm China time, with a dip in activity during lunchtime, Meta said.

Chinese company records seen by AFP showed the company's boss had the same name as a Chinese national listed as a director of London New Europe Ltd in the UK.

Xi'an Tianwendian Network Technology did not respond to requests for comment from AFP.

AFP also sought to contact New Europe Observation on Thursday via an email address listed on its Twitter account but received no reply.

Another China-based group primarily focused on India and Tibet named in the report spent $73,000 on Facebook advertising, Meta said.

Twitter and Facebook are officially blocked in mainland China, with users requiring banned VPNs to use their websites and apps.

Russia has long been accused of operating "troll farms" in a bid to influence public opinion in the West, with China not having been regarded as advanced in that area.

But Meta said the latest networks it had uncovered signalled China-based operations were becoming more sophisticated.

US authorities also said last month they had charged a group of Chinese Ministry of Public Security officers, saying they had operated a network of social media accounts spreading pro-Beijing messaging.

And in February, research firm Graphika revealed it had discovered a China-linked network promoting a fictitious news outlet called Wolf News that used AI-generated anchors to spread pro-Beijing talking points.

bur-oho/je/kma

Meta

GOOGLE

Twitter

Related Links
Cyberwar - Internet Security News - Systems and Policy Issues

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CYBER WARS
Pentagon leaks suspect made 'violent' threats, US says
Boston (AFP) April 27, 2023
A US airman accused of leaking top-secret documents had a history of making "violent" statements and owned numerous weapons, federal prosecutors alleged as a judge heard his request for bail Thursday. The Justice Department also said that 21-year-old Jack Teixeira might still have access to classified documents and that "hostile" nations could aid his escape if he is released from prison. They argued during a detention hearing in Worcester, Massachusetts that Teixeira poses "an ongoing risk" to ... read more

CYBER WARS
Raytheon to provide Patriot air defense system to Switzerland

Aegis Combat System intercepts target during flight test

Ukraine forces complete Patriot training in US: Pentagon

PAC-3 flight test paves the way for new Patriot software release

CYBER WARS
US Army awards $4.7B production contract for all-weather GMLRS rockets

Poland announces $2.4 bn air defence deal with Europe's MBDA

Poland probes suspected missile found in a forest

AMRAAM variant, AIM-120D-3, completes critical milestone

CYBER WARS
Chinese 'scorpion' combat drone circles Taiwan

Built to bounce back researchers design drones to cope with collisions

Drones navigate unseen environments with liquid neural networks

LIDS: A sure shot against drones

CYBER WARS
Raytheon Technologies develops 'NexGen Optix' Tactical Free-Space Optical Comms

Eglin squadron launches support for Link 16 from space

European consortium signs partnership agreement to bid for IRIS2 Constellation

Hughes introduces Smart Network Edge Software for critical DoD communications

CYBER WARS
Raytheon unveils next-gen intelligent electro-optical sensing capability

Ukraine has received 1,550 armoured vehicles, 230 tanks: NATO chief

Developing agile, reliable sensing systems with microbes

US announces new $325 mn military aid package for Ukraine

CYBER WARS
Mali receives military equipment shipment from China

Highest military spending in Europe since Cold War: study

Australia unveils biggest defence reform in decades

Seoul says military aid for Ukraine 'depends on Russia'

CYBER WARS
China's elders savour twilight years as the young toil

Chinese FM to visit Myanmar: ministry

Biden, Marcos to discuss countering Beijing in S.China Sea

Philippines won't become military staging post: Marcos

CYBER WARS
Single-molecule valve: a breakthrough in nanoscale control

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.