4,800 accounts are closed by Meta due to an alleged influence effort by China

Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, stands as a technological powerhouse at the forefront of shaping online interactions. Renowned for its innovative contributions to the digital world.

Meta recently disclosed the removal of approximately 4,800 counterfeit accounts originating from China, constituting an influence campaign intended to spread divisive content related to United States politics leading up to the 2024 presidential election. This revelation was part of Meta's third-quarter 2023 threat adversarial report, where the tech giant unveiled the detection of two China-based campaigns affecting its platforms, Facebook and Instagram.

The activities planned by those responsible involved posting in English on topics concerning US politics and US-China relations. Interestingly, these accounts exhibited a unique strategy of criticizing both ends of the US political spectrum, utilizing seemingly copied and pasted partisan content from unidentified sources.

Meta disclosed that the accounts engaged in resharing authentic posts from politicians and news outlets but did so under fabricated identities, adding an extra layer of deception.

The purpose behind this approach remains unresolved. Meta revealed that the entirety of this year, it cancelled a total of five influence campaigns emanating from China, surpassing any other country in this regard. It's worth noting that Meta refrained from attributing these activities to the Chinese government or any specific individual or group within China.

Meta disclosed the dismantling of a network based in Russia during the third quarter. This particular network was involved in disseminating content related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine and operated under the guise of fictitious "media" brands.

This disclosure by Meta aligns with growing concerns regarding the potential exploitation of tech platforms, including Facebook and X, to sow divisions and discord in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential elections. With the likelihood of a rerun between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, the tech giant's efforts to combat such influence campaigns are highly significant.