Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp parent company Meta Corporation has recently released its quarterly threat report. The report revealed the discovery and removal of an Israeli propaganda network that used artificial intelligence (AI) technology to target users in the United States and Canada. Despite its early detection and removal, the bot network had less than 500 followers on Facebook, fewer than 100 group members, and less than 2,000 followers on Instagram.
The bot network consisted of 510 bot accounts, 11 pages, one Facebook group, and 32 Instagram accounts. It operated from Israel and aimed to influence public opinion in North America by using fake or stolen accounts, many of which were identified and deactivated by Meta’s automated systems. To boost its visibility, the operators attracted likes and followers from Vietnam.
The bots were actively commenting on posts from international and local media outlets, public figures, and politicians including American legislators. They also shared links to network websites in the comments. Some comments were generated using AI technology. In addition to the Israeli network, Meta also took down an Iranian network that was targeting Israeli users. This highlights the ongoing challenge of online misinformation and the efforts of tech companies to combat such threats.
