Reuters has reported that networks of fake Facebook accounts operated from China are adapting and changing their tactics in order to sow discord and influence public opinion overseas. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, revealed during a Senate inquiry into foreign interference that there had been a noticeable shift in tactics by China-based networks over the past seven months. Coordinated networks of Chinese Facebook accounts are now targeting journalists, charities, and public relations firms in an attempt to manipulate public opinion. Meta recently removed numerous Facebook accounts belonging to a China-based network that was engaged in a coordinated disinformation campaign in Europe, attacking migrants and LGBTQ activists. The network had even established a front media company, hired freelance writers, and attempted to recruit protestors. The Australian government has expressed concerns about foreign interference and election meddling, especially as the country prepares for a historic referendum on Indigenous rights. To combat these issues, Meta’s policy director for Australia and New Zealand, Mia Garlick, announced that the platform would be implementing a comprehensive strategy, developed in consultation with First Nations communities, to combat misinformation and voter interference leading up to the referendum. Australia has been at the forefront of regulating digital platforms and has already adopted measures to remove violent videos and disclose the identity of online trolls. The government has also proposed new laws that could result in significant fines for tech giants like Facebook, Google, Twitter, and TikTok if they fail to take action against disinformation. These fines could be as high as five percent of their annual global turnover, among the highest proposed penalties worldwide.
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