Title: “World’s Largest Troll Army Falters as Chinese Influencer Operation Goes Awry”
Subtitle: “Meta Suspends Thousands of Accounts in ‘Covert Influence Operation’ on Facebook and Instagram”
In a major blow to the world’s largest troll army, Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, recently suspended around 9,000 accounts in response to what it describes as the “largest covert influence operation” ever witnessed, spanning multiple platforms.
These accounts were found to be sharing pro-Chinese images, videos, and comments across various forums, but with little finesse. Unlike independent trolls, Chinese trolls face strict repercussions if they deviate from the Communist Party’s agenda, resulting in poorly adapted and hastily thought-out posts.
Unsurprisingly, their tactics were riddled with blunders. For instance, in response to a post on Quora regarding losing belly fat, a troll account in Chinese replied that Taiwan must surrender. Such misguided contributions demonstrated a lack of basic understanding and relevant adaptation.
Meta’s investigation also revealed an unexpected pattern among the trolls. They adhered to regular office hours based on Beijing time and even took a lunch break precisely during the two hours that Chinese government employees are entitled to, revealing a lackadaisical approach to their operations.
The trolls’ behavior seemed to mirror the overall execution of this massive influencer operation. Although the Chinese regime initiated a widespread spamming campaign across more than 50 platforms, it appears that the employees responsible merely copied and pasted talking points from an Excel document, often neglecting to remove numbered references at the beginning of their comments.
This lack of attention to detail raises questions about whether they truly aim to influence Western elections.
Notably, the Chinese dictatorship appears to have lost its once dominant grip. Previously, they condemned the challenges in dealing with democracies, where leadership changed periodically. However, now it is the Chinese ministers who are being replaced at an increasing pace. For instance, one day Foreign Minister Qin Gang is present, and the next day, he is gone. The government’s website, once detailing his meetings and speeches, now displays a “page is loading” message instead.
In addition, the introduction of the “espionage law” last spring has led to foreign companies being deterred from operating within China, further undermining its global stability and appeal.
Nevertheless, it is important not to underestimate China’s depth and the potential threat it poses. The country’s global influence continues to grow, with the Security Service warning of increasing Chinese espionage activities even in countries like Sweden.
In the face of these concerns, it provides some reassurance that the internet trolls, despite their vast numbers and influence, still prioritize taking long lunch breaks over pursuing world domination. However, this undoubtedly highlights the need for continued vigilance and regulation to curb online manipulation and misinformation.
Photo: Andy Wong/AP