Facebook parent Meta Platforms removed a network of fake accounts that originated in Iran and targeted Instagram users in Scotland with content supporting Scottish independence, the company’s investigators said on Thursday.
The network used fake accounts to pose as locals in England and Scotland, posting photos and memes about current events and criticism of the United Kingdom’s government, Meta said.
The accounts posted commentary about Scottish independence and organized their content around common hashtags promoting the cause, though they at times misspelled them, the company said. The accounts also posted about football and UK cities, likely to make the fictitious personas seem more authentic.
The network used photos of media personalities and celebrities from the UK and Iran as well as profile pictures likely created through AI techniques, Meta said.
In a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014, Scots voted 55 percent-45 percent to remain in the United Kingdom, but both Brexit and the British government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis have bolstered support for independence among Scots and demands for a second vote.
Meta said its investigation found links to individuals in Iraq, including people with a background in teaching English as a foreign language.
It said the operation had some connections with a small Iran-based network it previously removed in December 2020, which mostly targeted Arabic, French and English-speaking audiences using fake accounts, but did not provide further details on who might be behind the activity.
“We’ve seen a range of operations coming from Iran over the last few years,” said Ben Nimmo, Meta’s global threat intelligence lead for influence operations, in a press briefing. “It’s not a monolithic environment.”
The social media company said it had removed eight Facebook accounts and 126 Instagram accounts as part of this network in December for violating its rules against coordinated inauthentic behavior.
Meta removes Iran-based fake accounts targeting Instagram users in Scotland
You might be interested in
Latest from Blog
Il riconoscimento sarà assegnato a rappresentanti delle istituzioni, medici, accademici, sportivi, professionisti e personalità del mondo
Il Marocco consolida la propria posizione di principale destinazione degli investimenti diretti esteri (IDE) nel Nord
“L’Islam politico è nemico della democrazia: mettere al bando Fratelli Musulmani”. L’appello dall’Austria. Il partito di
The rise of political Islamism and the risk that ideological movements might use the tools of
L’intesa segue il convegno alla Camera sulle implicazioni della presenza dei Fratelli Musulmani in Europa e
La question de l’islamisme politique et de l’influence des Frères musulmans sur les sociétés européennes s’est
Sala Salvadori della Camera dei Deputati gremita per il convegno “Integrazione: crisi di un modello europeo.
11 febbraio 2019 – Esiste una linea rossa del jihad quasi impercettibile, attraverso la quale l’estremismo
Non è solo una sensazione. Quel senso di pace che si prova davanti al mare ha
Si riaccende la tensione nel caso che vede coinvolta la cittadina italiana Nessy Guerra, da mesi