Posted 1/20/2024, 2:22:00 PM
BBC Uncovers Coordinated Pro-Government Disinformation Network in Uganda Using Stolen Photos to Create Fake Social Media Personas
- BBC uncovered a network of fake social media accounts in Uganda used to spread pro-government messaging and threaten critics
- Accounts used stolen photos of real people like Dr Jamechia Hoyle to create fake personas
- Mapped out a network of nearly 200 fake accounts on Twitter and Facebook posting identical content
- Accounts appear coordinated and were often created on the same days, suggesting centralized control
- Meta believes accounts linked to Ugandan Government Citizen Interaction Centre agency, but they deny running accounts on Facebook