China is behind the largest known covert propaganda operation ever identified on Facebook and Instagram, according to a new report by security researchers at Meta.

Meta on Tuesday outed the authors of a four-year long influence campaign dubbed “Spamouflage Dragon,” which first appeared in 2019 to spread propaganda about Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests. Since then, the campaign has focused on spreading disinformation about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, attacking dissidents and critics abroad, criticizing the United States, and attempting to sow division during the 2022 midterm elections.

For years, researchers have speculated that the voluminous Spamouflage Dragon posts were connected to the Chinese government but have been unable to publicly prove a link until now. The link comes courtesy of overlapping content found in both Meta’s report and charges filed against Chinese intelligence operatives back in spring.

  • Franzia@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    10 months ago

    Just don’t lump me in with covidiots saying there are microchips in the vaccines.

    Of course not! We’ve all come across misinformation on this topic. It’s unavoidable. Even now I have questions about current messaging, new strains, etc. It’s so shit.

    as much as be 1% more skeptical.

    Nobody just trusts what they read anymore, whether its the news or the state. I wish I could be 1% less skeptical, I’d still be perfectly fine.

    Like he told us not to wear masks.

    This does seem like a huge fuck-up in hindsight. Thankfully while Fauci is still a popular interview guest, he’s no longer in charge.

    Jeanne Marrazzo will take NIAID lead, NIH Lead Hearing is Delayed