Twitter and Meta Remove Disinformation Networks Linked to CCP

Strategic Insights -

A significant development in the fight against Chinese Communist Party (CCP) disinformation has occurred, with Twitter deleting thousands of accounts used to amplify propaganda regarding human rights abuses against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, while Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, identified and removed a large disinformation network built from hundreds of fake social media accounts.

The announcement came after Meta revealed a disinformation network based in southwest China, one of which belonged to a fictitious Swiss biologist, which was used to spread "anti-U.S. disinformation" about the origins of the coronavirus. Twitter released a representative sample of 2,048 accounts removed for amplifying CCP narratives related to the treatment of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang. Meta reported that it had deleted around 600 accounts in the network from Facebook and Instagram.

Key Takeaways:

  • Twitter deleted thousands of accounts used to amplify Chinese Communist Party propaganda regarding human rights abuses against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
  • Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, identified and removed a large disinformation network built from hundreds of fake social media accounts.
  • The disinformation network was built by a private company backed by the Xinjiang regional government, with one of the fake accounts belonging to a fictitious Swiss biologist.
  • The biologist, named Wilson Edwards, claimed to have inside information from the WHO showing that the agency's plans to investigate the "lab leak" theory of the coronavirus' origins were "largely politically motivated."
  • Meta reported that it had deleted around 600 accounts in the network from Facebook and Instagram.
  • Experts say that the CCP's attempts at disinformation were fairly transparent to social media users outside China.
  • The WHO team sent to Wuhan to investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic reported mixed signals regarding the transparency of the probe.
  • Chinese state media outlets removed articles citing "Edwards" following the Swiss Embassy's request to take down the posts.

Statistics:

  • Twitter deleted 2,048 accounts for amplifying CCP narratives related to the treatment of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.
  • Meta deleted around 600 accounts in the disinformation network from Facebook and Instagram.
  • The disinformation network was built from hundreds of fake social media accounts.
  • The fake account belonging to Wilson Edwards was opened on Facebook in July.
  • The post was liked, linked to or reposted by hundreds of other accounts, many of which were created on the same day.

Sources:

  • Radio Free Asia, "Twitter deletes defenses of the CCP's rights record, while Meta removes a large 'disinformation network'. By Hwang Chun-mei, 2021.12.03.
  • Twitter, "We removed a network of accounts that amplified Chinese Communist Party narratives related to the treatment of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang."
  • Meta, "We removed a network of accounts that amplified Chinese Communist Party narratives related to the treatment of the Uyghur population in Xinjiang."
  • World Health Organization (WHO), "Investigation into the origins of SARS-CoV-2: The Scientific Study".