This was a couple of months ago now, but it’s relevant to what is going on around social media, Pauline Hanson, misinformation, fake news, AI-produced content & overseas accounts that generate the majority of this rubbish.
‘Research from ABC News Verify & The Guardian confirms that many large, seemingly grassroots pro-One Nation Facebook groups operate as foreign-run "meme factories". These networks are managed by offshore administrators in Southeast Asia (such as Vietnam & the Philippines) & are designed to monetize Australian online engagement through ad revenue rather than legitimate political support’
The abc news have identified at least 20 foreign-run pages with many linked to admins based in Sri Lanka, Vietnam & The Philippines. These pages rely on high volumes of AI-generated content - deepfakes, bogus articles, fabricated stories about political figures to drive outrage and generate interest.
The pages exist to game algorithms & direct traffic to external sites, which are profit driven.
The same techniques are used via foreign Facebook accounts using an AI Pauline Hanson to manipulate Australian users. Posts involving Hanson are generally AI images with a small number of genuine pictures that depict Hanson in a positive & formative light in events that have never happened. Philanthropic roles in the community depict Hanson as a caring individual giving money away & helping people. Other “news stories” depict Hanson taking on other politicians - usually Anthony Albanese - painting the PM in a bad light.
All the so-called news & events that are generated have never happened - but these events & imagery are being liked & shared throughout social media thousands of times by users who believe what they see without question & can’t see past the fake stories & imagery - these people aren’t prepared to research factual information that would negate this outside of the platform. Simple online searches would result in confirmation that these stories & events are not present in real life or in any news sources outside of the online platform source.
While Pauline Hanson has primarily been depicted in a positive light - Albanese has been depicted in negative events, argumentative and duplicitous. None of these events are true.
These fake news and events posts are used to engage users, encouraging emotive responses - and are more likely to induce anger and resentment.
According to The Guardian Australia, pro One Nation facebook groups appear to be run by foreign meme factories that monetise content.
‘Guardian Australia examined 14 of the largest pro-One Nation public groups with at least 8,000 members, and found most were created this year.
While some groups appear to be longstanding and set up by genuine supporters, the majority are full of content overwhelmingly fed by what digital media researcher Timothy Graham said appeared to be “a foreign-run, predominantly Indonesian, for-hire engagement farm operation”
Much of the content across these groups is designed to be what Graham called outrage or “poll bait” – asking yes or no questions, such as “Was Pauline Hanson right to scold this journo?” or “Should Sharia law be banned in the Australia?”
Other posts are reactive, with some of the accounts Guardian Australia tracked posting multiple times about the party’s “Fire the Liar” campaign. In at least one case, the text and image promoting the party’s fundraising drive was copied from a verified One Nation page’
So, pro Hanson content on social media driven by foreign players for positive pro-Hanson political content that is entirely fictitious….
I wonder who is driving this and how much of it is being paid for by Australian taxpayers?
It would appear there is much to be gained for some but not others via online fake media stories, memes and AI.
https://t.co/dQEHk0uzF8
@Katherine_deves Wow you're such a racist prat. It's not about the children it's about your white supremacist views. It's obvious by looking a your post history. You need to take a deep hard look at yourself...
@TimjboAU Overall prices set to decline 2-3%. In heavy investor markets 7-8%. Is this really that bad?
Considering the housing market is heavily overvalued. It's not really a crash is it, more of a correction.