Meta Unveils Disruption of Covert Propaganda Campaigns from Iran, China, and Romania
TL;DR
Meta has dismantled three covert influence operations originating from Iran, China, and Romania. These campaigns utilized fake accounts to spread propaganda on Meta’s platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Each operation had distinct targets and narratives, aiming to manipulate public discourse in various regions.
Meta Unveils Disruption of Covert Propaganda Campaigns from Iran, China, and Romania
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced the disruption of three significant covert influence operations originating from Iran, China, and Romania. These campaigns employed fake accounts to disseminate propaganda and manipulate public discourse across multiple social media platforms.
Operations and Impact
China-Based Network
Meta removed 157 Facebook accounts, 19 Pages, 1 Group, and 17 Instagram accounts linked to a China-based network. This operation targeted audiences in Myanmar, Taiwan, and Japan. The campaign utilized AI-generated photos and fake accounts managed by an account farm to spread local-language content. Key narratives included:
- Support for Myanmar’s junta
- Criticism of Japan’s ties with the U.S.
- Corruption claims in Taiwan
The network had approximately 7,800 Page followers, 25 Group members, and 700 Instagram followers.
Iran-Based Network
Meta dismantled 17 Facebook accounts, 22 Pages, and 21 Instagram accounts tied to an Iran-based network. This operation focused on Azeri-speaking users in Azerbaijan and Turkey. Fake accounts posed as female journalists and pro-Palestine activists, using hashtags like #palestine and #gaza to spread spammy content across Meta platforms, YouTube, X, and other websites. Key topics included:
- Global events
- Anti-U.S. rhetoric
The network gained 44,000 Page followers and 63,000 Instagram followers, spending $70 on ads.
Romania-Based Network
Meta removed 658 Facebook accounts, 14 Pages, and 2 Instagram accounts linked to a Romania-based network. These fake accounts posed as locals sharing content on sports, travel, and local news to appear credible. The operation spanned across Facebook, YouTube, X, and TikTok, with engagement on posts by politicians and news outlets. Key metrics included:
- 18,300 Page followers
- 40 Instagram followers
- $177,000 spent on ads, primarily in USD
Threat Report and Indicators
Meta’s Adversarial Threat Report for the first quarter of 2025 includes threat indicators for these campaigns. The report highlights the sequence of steps threat actors take to establish a presence, disguise operations, engage audiences, and respond to takedowns. Meta has shared these indicators to enable further research by the open-source community.
“To help the broader research community study and protect people across different internet services, we’ve collated and organized these indicators according to the Online Operations Kill Chain framework… We’re sharing these threat indicators to enable further research by the open-source community into any related activity across the web.” Read Meta’s Adversarial Threat Report, First Quarter 2025.
Conclusion
Meta’s proactive measures to disrupt these covert influence operations underscore the ongoing challenge of combating misinformation and propaganda on social media platforms. By sharing threat indicators and collaborating with the research community, Meta aims to enhance the broader understanding and defense against such malicious activities.
Additional Resources
For further insights, check: