What Is Spamouflage Operation? Meta Removes Thousands Of Pro-China Accounts

YOGYAKARTA - Meta tela removed about 7,700 Facebook accounts as a step to stop Spamouflage campaigns or operations. In addition to the FB account, Meta also closed hundreds of pages, groups, and other Instagram accounts that were considered to be intensifying the pro-Chinese narrative online. Then what is the Spamouflage operation asked by Meta?

Meta is still taking the steps to remove thousands of FB accounts to stop online spam spread by China. Accounts mentioned above usually have a positive image of the Chinese state and policies in Xinjiang, as well as criticism of Western, United States (US), and individuals critical of Beijing.

"We consider this to be the influence of the biggest covert operations, although unsuccessful, and the most productive we know in the world today," said Ben Nimmo, Meta's global threat intelligence leader.

To see as long as Meta takes firm action against thousands of accounts that highlight China and Western warnings, it is necessary to know what the Spamouflage operation is.

Meta as Facebook's parent removed thousands of accounts as a form of China-driven Spamouflage operations. Spamouflage is a term mentioned by Western technology researchers to describe a bold disinformation campaign and Chinese-based propaganda.

According to Meta, Spamouflage's campaign action has been going on for about five years and has spread widely and is not detected by the platform. Spamouflage action is considered to have been carried out on more than 50 platforms and forums including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, Youtube, and X (formerly Twitter).

We consider that this is the largest influence operation, but not a success, which we know is the world now. And we have been able to unite this Spamouflage to a number of individuals associated with Chinese law enforcement. " said Ben Nimmo.

Spamouflage is run targeting several countries, ranging from the United States, Taiwan, Britain, Australia, Japan, and a global audience of Chinese speakers. Benn Nimmo said collectives could connect Spamouflage with individuals associated with Chinese law enforcement.

Meta believes that the accounts involved in Spamouflage are mostly purchased from commercial spam operators in other countries, such as Bangladesh or Vietnam. The accounts are then used to spread political messages or pro-Chingkok propaganda.

Ben Nimmo conveyed evidence that one of the deleted accounts was involved in Spampouflage. The account sends a clothing advertisement using Mandarin before switching to English post.

Ben Nimmo also said that the technique carried out in China's Spamouflage operation was similar to Russia's 'troll factory' action. Both operations may have studied each other. But the Spamouflage carried out by China was mostly failed or unsuccessful.

Tim Meta menyebutkan bahwa meskipun Spamouflage sudah meluas, namun interaksi yang dihasilkan masih minim. Selain itu, pengguna internet juga cenderung mempercaya klaim-klaim palsu yang diumumkan oleh jaringan ini. Akun FB dan IG yang terindikasi terlibat dalam Spamouflage kemudian ditolak karena melanggar aturan Meta.

Demikianlah review tentang apa itu operasi Spamouflage yang dilakukan oleh Meta dengan menghapus ribuan akun FB. Meta melakukan langkah ini untuk menjaga integritas platformnya dan mencegah penyebaran informasi yang dapat mempenggaruhi opini publik.

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