On Tuesday, Meta Platforms have mentioned that it had disrupted the first known China-based influence operation which have been focusing on targeting users in the United States with political content, earlier than the midterm elections in November.

HIGHLIGHTS
The network maintained fake accounts across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Chinese fake accounts posed as liberal and conservative Americans
Meta's move followed 'the directions of the U.S. authorities'

The network had maintained fake accounts across Meta's social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, along with the rival service Twitter, however it was tiny and didn't attract much of the following. 

Till date the report noted that the invention was important as it recommended a shift towards more direct interference in U.S. domestic politics compared with previous known Chinese propaganda efforts.

Another Meta person has mentioned in a briefing that the company didn't have enough proof to mention who in China was behind the activity.

When U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was asked about the Meta's findings at a group discussion, the Meta person mentioned that the workplace was 'very concerned' about the intelligence reports of election interference by foreign governments which was 'started back at some time ago and had continued all the way into this.'

A Twitter spokesperson has mentioned that the company was responsive about the data in Meta's report and it has also took down the accounts.

As per Meta's report, the Chinese fake accounts had posed as liberal and conservative Americans in several states. They had posted certain political memes and lurked within the comments of public figures' posts since November 2021.

The same network had set up fake accounts that posed as folks within the Czech Republic have been criticizing the Czech government over its approach to China. 

Meta has mentioned that it had intercepted the biggest and most advanced Russian-based operation since the war in Ukraine began. It was described as a sprawling network of over sixty websites impersonating legitimate news organizations, along with around 4,000 social media accounts and petitions on sites like U.S.-based campaign group Avaaz.

This operation had primarily targeted the users in Germany as well as France, Italy, Ukraine and also the United Kingdom, which had spent over $100,000 on ads promoting pro-Russian messages.

On the couple of occasions, Russian embassies in Europe and Asia amplified the content.

The Russian embassy in Washington had mentioned that Meta's move had followed 'the directions of the U.S. authorities' and it has been considered as violation of freedom of speech.

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