A large-scale network of fake social media accounts promoting Indian government and army propaganda has been uncovered, operating undetected for nearly three years. This network, which primarily targeted Indian audiences, disseminated content supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration while portraying neighboring countries—such as China, the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Pakistan—in a negative light.

Researchers from NewsGuard, a group specializing in identifying misinformation, have revealed that this extensive operation involved at least 500 Facebook accounts and 904 X (formerly Twitter) accounts. These accounts were actively involved in posting, reposting, and commenting on pro-government content, creating an illusion of widespread support for India’s military and political leadership. The primary objective of the network appeared to be boosting public favor for Modi’s administration and Indian military efforts while discrediting other nations, particularly Pakistan and China.

Dimitris Dimitriadis, Director of Research and Development at NewsGuard, expressed surprise at the longevity of this network, which managed to evade detection since September 2021. “We regularly track inauthentic networks, but they usually get taken down within weeks,” Dimitriadis noted. This campaign, however, is one of the longest-running influence operations NewsGuard has encountered.

Tactics and Content

Despite its long-running presence, the operation was not highly sophisticated. The fake accounts used pseudonyms and profile pictures, posting content that was often bland and repetitive. Instead of spreading blatant disinformation, the network focused on promoting pro-government propaganda by reposting favorable news stories from pro-government outlets like Hindustan Times and ANI News.

READ MORE:

UAE Court Recognizes Crypto as Legitimate Salary Payment in Historic Case

For instance, in July, 20 fake X accounts linked to the network commented on an ANI News post about General Upendra Dwivedi becoming the new Chief of Army Staff. These accounts made nearly identical comments such as, “The Indian Army — A symbol of national strength” and “General Dwivedi — A leader who values transparency and accountability,” designed to project a unified show of support for the Indian military.

Some accounts, like the ironically named JK News Network, claimed to offer 24/7 news updates but mostly posted pro-military content and flattering photos of military personnel. Often, the accompanying text appeared AI-generated, characterized by awkward phrasing, poor English, and incomplete sentences, indicating a lack of human oversight.

Repetition and AI-Generated Content

Repetition was a notable feature of the network’s operation. Many accounts posted identical content multiple times a day. For example, 429 fake accounts reposted the same message when JK News Network covered Pakistan’s treatment of religious minorities in Balochistan.

Despite its extensive reach, the campaign had minimal impact. Dimitriadis described the operation as “awkward” and “sloppy,” which likely contributed to its limited engagement with real public conversations.

Lack of Detection

The extended undetected period of the campaign may be attributed to social media platforms’ algorithms, which often display content from a few accounts to measure user engagement. This system makes it easier for fake accounts to avoid detection, particularly when targeting like-minded individuals who are less likely to report suspicious content.

The discovery of this network underscores the persistent threat of online influence operations and the importance of vigilance in evaluating social media content.

Also Read:  AI-Driven Social Media Accounts Disseminate Indian Army Propaganda