International

Twitter Removes “State-Linked” Accounts Of China, Russia & Turkey

Though Twitter has removed all the content and accounts related to this network, the data has been placed on an archive database for researchers.

Mumbai| Twitter on Friday announced that it has removed thousands of accounts, used by the ruling dispensations in countries such as China, Russia, and Turkey, to spread pro-establishment propaganda. These accounts are used to push their own propaganda, sow misinformation, or attack critics.

Twitter said that the biggest network uncovered was linked to the People’s Republic of China, which consisted of a “highly engaged core” of 23,750 accounts that was boosted by a further 150,000 “amplifier” accounts.

7,340 accounts were used by the Turkish Network, while the Russian network had 1,152 accounts.

Though Twitter has removed all the content and accounts related to this network, the data has been placed on an archive database for researchers.

Twitter also said that the current Chinese network had “failed to achieve considerable traction” but was “involved in a range of manipulative and coordinated activities”.

“They were tweeting predominantly in Chinese languages and spreading geopolitical narratives favorable to the Communist Party of China while continuing to push deceptive narratives about the political dynamics in Hong Kong,” Twitter explained in its analysis.

Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, the social media giants, are censored in China.

Also Read: Will China meddle in our elections?

Twitter further explained that the Turkish network was discovered in early 2020, and was used to boost the public image of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The network in Russia was involved in the similar activities of influencing political opinions, promoting the ruling United Russia Party, and attack dissidents.

 

 

Dear Readers,
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.

Related posts