Governments, public relations firms and political parties are producing misinformation on an industrial scale, and social media manipulation levels have soared. Out of 81 countries surveyed in a recent study, 93% deployed disinformation as part of political communication.
Organized social media manipulation campaigns were found in each of the countries surveyed. Governments and political parties spend millions working with private sector communications firms, youth groups and civil society organizations to spread propaganda, shape public attitudes, and suppress political participation. The toolkit consists of, for example, media manipulation, smear campaigns, online harassment, and troll attacks.
The study shows how social media manipulation of public opinion is threatening democracies globally. It highlights the need for the public to rely on trustworthy information about government policies and activities.
Social media companies must increase their efforts to flag misinformation and close fake accounts without requiring government intervention.
Original study:
Social media manipulation by political actors an industrial scale problem - Oxford report
Original paper:
Industrialized Disinformation: 2020 Global Inventory of Organized Social Media Manipulation