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Meta Earned \$338,000 from Pro-Russian Disinformation Campaign
A pro-Russian disinformation campaign, Doppelgänger, generated over \$338,000 in revenue for Meta through 8,000 sponsored Facebook posts between 2023 and November 2024, despite sanctions against the responsible Russian companies and the campaign's expansion to platforms such as Bluesky.
- What is the financial impact of Meta's allowance of pro-Russian sponsored posts linked to the Doppelgänger disinformation campaign, and what are the immediate implications?
- Between 2023 and November 2024, Meta earned over \$338,000 from at least 8,000 pro-Russian sponsored posts linked to the Doppelgänger disinformation campaign. This campaign used caricatures of French politicians and anti-EU aid messages targeting Ukraine. The campaign's reach extended to France, Germany, Poland, and Italy.
- How did the Doppelgänger campaign evolve from mimicking Western media to using sponsored Facebook posts, and what factors contributed to its continued success despite sanctions?
- The Doppelgänger campaign, initially mimicking Western media to spread anti-Ukraine and anti-West messages, has evolved to include sponsored Facebook posts. This demonstrates the campaign's adaptability and its exploitation of social media's advertising model for financial gain and broader dissemination. Despite sanctions against the Russian companies involved, the campaign continues, highlighting challenges in combating online disinformation.
- What are the long-term implications of the Doppelgänger campaign's expansion to new platforms like Bluesky, and what challenges does its sophisticated approach pose for combating online disinformation?
- The campaign's expansion to Bluesky in early 2025 shows its persistent and evolving nature. The use of AI-generated profiles and coordinated bot activity points to a sophisticated operation that adapts to current events and targets influential accounts to maximize visibility. The continued success despite sanctions raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of current countermeasures.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames Meta's role as significantly negative, highlighting their profit from the disinformation campaign and their perceived slow response. While acknowledging Meta's efforts to counter the campaign, the emphasis on the negative aspects and the financial gains creates a biased narrative. The headline and introduction immediately focus on the financial aspect and Meta's apparent complicity, setting a negative tone.
Language Bias
While largely neutral in its language, the repeated use of terms like "disinformation," "pro-Russian," and "manipulation" subtly frames the campaign in a negative light. The description of the campaign as "proliferating" suggests a sense of uncontrolled spread and threat. More neutral alternatives could include "misinformation campaign," "Russia-linked campaign," and "online influence campaign.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the actions of Meta and the Doppelgänger campaign, but omits discussion of the potential impact of this disinformation on public opinion and the resulting political consequences. It also doesn't explore the effectiveness of the sanctions imposed on the Russian companies involved.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic view of the conflict, focusing on the pro-Russian disinformation campaign without delving into the complexities of the geopolitical situation in Ukraine and the diverse opinions surrounding the conflict. It implies a clear dichotomy between pro-Russian disinformation and truth, neglecting the nuances and varying perspectives that exist.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights a pro-Russian disinformation campaign ("Doppelgänger") that used sponsored content on Facebook and other platforms to spread anti-Ukraine and anti-Western narratives. This undermines democratic processes, fuels social unrest, and interferes with international relations, thus negatively impacting peace, justice, and strong institutions. The campaign's persistence despite sanctions imposed by the EU, US, and UK further demonstrates its negative impact on global stability and the rule of law.