Over 800 fake Facebook accounts are amplifying an operation on TikTok and YouTube aimed at influencing the outcome of the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election, according to a report by social media analytics firm Graphika. The operation, which started in May 2022, aims to manipulate online conversations about Taiwanese politics. As of last week, it involved over 800 fake Facebook accounts, 13 Facebook pages, one TikTok account, and one YouTube channel.
The fake accounts primarily use Chinese-language memes and videos and often employ erroneous or uncommon transliterations of Taiwanese slang, indicating that the individuals behind them are not fully fluent in the language. The report states that the operation supports and promotes Taiwan’s main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), and its presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih, while criticizing rivals such as Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te and Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) candidate Ko Wen-je.
Graphika researchers discovered that this propaganda campaign operates in conjunction with developments in Taiwan’s news cycle. For instance, during controversies such as the egg shortage, attempts are made to depict opponents of the KMT as incompetent and corrupt.
The operation is orchestrated by a persona known as Agitate Taiwan (鼓動台灣), which is active on both YouTube and TikTok since August and December 2022, respectively. Agitate Taiwan serves as a content hub for the campaign, regularly producing and distributing multiple videos through the hundreds of fake Facebook accounts.
According to Graphika, the posts on Facebook show minimal engagement with authentic users, but some posts rank high in search results for specific topic hashtags related to Taiwan’s presidential elections and political parties.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has collaborated with Graphika to investigate this cross-internet activity and has taken down the accounts involved. A spokesperson for Meta stated that they continue to monitor for any additional violations of their inauthentic behavior policy.
YouTube has deleted the Agitate Taiwan account from its platform due to violations of its rules, including spam, deceptive practices, and scams. However, the persona remains active on TikTok, according to a representative from the company. TikTok claims that it is currently investigating the account but has not found evidence suggesting it is inauthentic or part of an election interference operation.
At present, TikTok has not responded to requests from Taiwan News for further details regarding their evaluation of the Agitate Taiwan account’s authenticity.
The use of fake accounts to spread misinformation and influence public opinion continues to be a significant concern in the digital age. The Graphika report sheds light on the extent of such operations, highlighting the need for continued vigilance in identifying and combating online deception.
