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We're disclosing coordinated account activity focused on the ongoing protest movement in Hong Kong. Our investigations have found that these accounts are linked to state-backed information operations from mainland China.https://t.co/Pc9R90Dp85
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) August 19, 2019
Twitter is not for normal people it’s a journalist influence platform. https://t.co/mxXxweKicq
— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) August 19, 2019
BREAKING: Twitter says it has uncovered a "significant state-backed information operation" originating from inside China aimed "deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong." https://t.co/3bvGVtlcj6
— CNBC Now (@CNBCnow) August 19, 2019
This kind of behavior isn't shocking.
— The Grey Man (@IntelOperator) August 19, 2019
The Chinese government has been clamping down on critics who voice dissent on Twitter, even though the service is blocked beyond Hong Kong. https://t.co/v2FavU7wfF
Facebook found similar activity: "Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government." https://t.co/xTdh0RvPgm
— Sarah Frier (@sarahfrier) August 19, 2019
Thread which points up the dilemma of ad-dependent orgs in a world where authoritarian governments can buy ads too.
— Charles Arthur (@charlesarthur) August 18, 2019
It will sound trite, but imagine 1936-8 with social networks, taking ads from anyone to make unverified propaganda claims. https://t.co/Fdzt69iwYC
At least the ads Xinhua ran in the last 7 days are public thanks to the ad transparency center: https://t.co/snFthh0waP
— Luca Hammer (@luca) August 18, 2019
Many ads were removed because they violated Twitter Ads policies.
I once again ask Twitter to make targeting and budgets of all ads public. pic.twitter.com/0ocUMGkTaj
Twitter (like Facebook) has long taken Chinese government money in exchange for propaganda as ads, but China’s use of Twitter to pump out anti-Hong Kong protest messages is disturbing
— Jon Russell (@jonrussell) August 19, 2019
Twitter is profiting from, and part of, a global disinformation war https://t.co/LU7Qx6coKt
Great that Twitter speaks up, let’s keep it up as we get close to election time #justsaying https://t.co/r588DzVa2G
— Carolina Milanesi (@caro_milanesi) August 19, 2019
This comes after fierce criticism over the weekend that Twitter was facilitating pro-China/anti-protest ads on its platform https://t.co/9XVha8SoEY
— Dave Lee (@DaveLeeBBC) August 19, 2019
What China is doing is clear. If these peaceful, extremely self-disciplined protesters who enjoy the clear backing of the overwhelming majority of Hong Kongers can be discredited, it will be easier to crack down. What the fuck Twitter thinks it's doing is less clear.
— Pinboard (@Pinboard) August 17, 2019
though twitter’s taken p quick action here, those state actors shouldn’t have been able to buy that ad space to begin with, imo; at least not without SERIOUS review https://t.co/oCHwees6Js
— shoshana wodinsky (@swodinsky) August 19, 2019
Look on the bright side — Facebook finally got into China ? https://t.co/ltZ1VfbuGW
— Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton) August 19, 2019
What other such tweets are being promoted in people’s timelines? https://t.co/KLO3bHS6VW
— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) August 17, 2019
“The ads try to portray the protests as ‘escalating violence" and calls for "order to be restored.’ Other ads have highlighted alleged supporters of the Chinese "motherland" and hv pointed out #HongKong's economic troubles fr earlier in the yr”https://t.co/Gy3yBV8NNV#AntiELAB
— #AntiELAB Fight for Hong Kong (@Fight4HongKong) August 19, 2019
It's very clear that China is using Western freedom as a tool against Western freedom.
— Tim Culpan (@tculpan) August 19, 2019
But what can free and open democracies do about it?
Should they do anything about it?
What role can or should the companies play?
I don't have answers, but I'd love to hear practical ideas
@ me https://t.co/LKAWu19UVb
You're an authoritarian state that bans people from using our product? Sure we'll help you spread your lies against pro-democracy demonstrators! https://t.co/WR7lPZv401 pic.twitter.com/XOUMF06HJs
— Andrew Stroehlein (@astroehlein) August 19, 2019
Spent the month of July in Hong Kong.
— TV Grim Reaper (@TVGrimReaper) August 18, 2019
Never felt threatened by the protests even though they were very close.
The junior reaper followed along with one and was treated very well.
There was no "heavy toll on the social order".
Propaganda as a promoted tweet.@jack? https://t.co/t3VYX3TiAx
This is the most detailed and specific account I’ve seen yet of how Chinese state media are promoting anti-HK protest posts on #Twitter. Twitter should give serious thought to stopping this, even moreso considering the police crackdown on their users in #China earlier this year https://t.co/DQLktNIaXU
— Sarah Cook (@Sarah_G_Cook) August 19, 2019
If you work at Twitter, I'm asking you on bended knee to make it stop. Don't be complicit in this.
— Pinboard (@Pinboard) August 17, 2019
Twitter announced that more than 900 accounts originating from inside China have been part of a coordinated effort to undermine political protests in Hong Kong.https://t.co/z1S0OiSF3A
— Axios (@axios) August 19, 2019
NEW: Twitter has banned advertising from "state-controlled news media entities"https://t.co/z1S0Ojagsa
— Axios (@axios) August 19, 2019
The Trump admin’s devastating, illegal, & unethical Title X gag rule puts birth control and other essential care at risk for millions.
— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) July 16, 2019
But you can count on us to NEVER stop fighting for all those across the country in need of health care. #ProtectX https://t.co/JbIksoHflx
Was Weld right? A question for the presidential debates: "[In] his senior thesis...he argued that the commonly accepted Latin text of passages by the elegiac poet Sextus Propertius was wrong, because of mistranscription by scribes during the Middle Ages."https://t.co/FFHuitLVft
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 19, 2019
In 1996, Zalmay Sahib #Khalilzad proposed engagement with #Taliban on the false premise that they had made Osama #binLaden leave #Afghanistan. He apparently was a consultant for UNOCAL oil co. at the time ... take his peace-mongering with a grain of salthttps://t.co/GCXZHWXcNZ https://t.co/fBm7rB3HzF
— Mohammad Taqi (@mazdaki) August 18, 2019
We're making national news holding New Mexico eco-liberals accountable. "Follow" to help us call out liberal hypocrisy and fight for energy workers! https://t.co/2R557LojPU
— Power The Future New Mexico (@PTFNewMexico) May 20, 2019
t’s #Trollbot math - how many lies did Obama tell? 2? 5? 10? So they figure 12k is less than 10. Russians should be better at math - even bots. Blocked and reported.https://t.co/OKW123QCTR pic.twitter.com/60gwLkuU7U
— kavid (@kavid) August 19, 2019
Facebook and Twitter say China has been using their services to spread disinformation on the Hong Kong protests https://t.co/vAHCHIQbSF
— Austin Ramzy (@austinramzy) August 19, 2019
“China has aggressively stirred up anti-Western and nationalist sentiment using state and social media as part of an information war in the Hong Kong protests.” Twitter and Facebook used as propaganda platforms by China. https://t.co/6AXeUCBcfV via @nytimes
— Barbara Malmet (@B52Malmet) August 19, 2019
Facebook and Twitter Say China Is Spreading Disinformation in Hong Kong https://t.co/NOwggsilIT
— Samuel Oakford (@samueloakford) August 19, 2019
HISTORIC + IMPORTANT that a US company (Twitter) is publicly revealing discovery of information operations from China
— Josh Wolfe (@wolfejosh) August 19, 2019
<This is usually the domain of intelligence agencies + special operations>https://t.co/a8rDADhb5j
Twitter alleging PRC state manipulation of a western social media platform. No reason to think these capabilities are or will remain limited to Hong Kong. Appears to share commonalities with Russian tactics. Some initial takeaways from Twitter's data dump: https://t.co/wZcHylEAJf
— Matt Schrader (@tombschrader) August 19, 2019
Big story just now: Twitter and Facebook jointly take down a network of Chinese forged accounts attacking Hong Kong, both (!) linking the activity to the Chinese government—note the remarkably crude, vile content
— Thomas Rid (@RidT) August 19, 2019
Twitter: https://t.co/R8q0Giievb
Facebook: https://t.co/O4Tq4eVmWI
BREAKING — @Twitter announces that 900+ accounts originating in China “deliberately and specifically attempt[ed] to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy... of the protest movement,” calling it a “state-backed operation.” https://t.co/hG2m7SOI4M
— j.d. durkin (@jiveDurkey) August 19, 2019
Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube should BAN all State-backed propaganda sources in china. It’s clear that these 200,000 accounts were set up by the “state” of china.Why allow xinhua, global times, china daily, or any others to continue to act? #BANthemALL https://t.co/YZa5r0NTET
— Kyle Bass (@Jkylebass) August 19, 2019
Twitter taking down 936 fake accounts "attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground." Calls it a "coordinated state-backed operation." https://t.co/xHRXfZO87b
— Sarah Frier (@sarahfrier) August 19, 2019
We're disclosing coordinated account activity focused on the ongoing protest movement in Hong Kong. Our investigations have found that these accounts are linked to state-backed information operations from mainland China.https://t.co/Pc9R90Dp85
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) August 19, 2019
Woah, Twitter just released ~300 MB of Tweets and information on accounts operated by PRC to undermine the Hong Kong protest movement. They're unambiguously calling out a state sponsored operation. https://t.co/7VXuyhDzCR
— tomchop (@tomchop_) August 19, 2019
Twitter has suspended nearly 950 accounts originating from mainland China that were “deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement.” https://t.co/nZ3wAPavCw
— Sadanand Dhume (@dhume) August 19, 2019
twitter policy & safety are busy today https://t.co/fLgFpOgE5Y pic.twitter.com/lavSwPFkST
— David Kaye (@davidakaye) August 19, 2019
Both Twitter and Facebook now say they've found evidence of a major, coordinated disinformation campaign originating in China, aimed at destabilizing Hong Kong.
— Will Oremus (@WillOremus) August 19, 2019
Twitter: https://t.co/d5OOi9Lxk7
Facebook: https://t.co/3XMPCpaCWR
1. It is impressive that Twitter disclosed this so quickly: https://t.co/68CJmhMaMD
— EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) August 19, 2019
2. Is anyone independently looking for these types of patterns on TikTok?
Twitter says it has suspended ~200,000 accounts it believes were linked to the People's Republic of China and a campaign "to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy/political positions of protest movement on the ground."https://t.co/0rbWTejAX5
— Andrea Woo | 鄔瑞楓 (@AndreaWoo) August 19, 2019
Looks like the Chinese op on Twitter was a big attempt. Almost 1000 active accounts, plus 200k spammy ones preemptively taken down.
— Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) August 19, 2019
Main focus: #HongKongprotests. "We have reliable evidence to support that this is a coordinated state-backed operation."https://t.co/re3sopadBC
this blog post will be in history books -- we are in a new erahttps://t.co/201P0isrYm
— B (@iamb) August 19, 2019
oh shit!! https://t.co/woCUULyimq
— ? (@turtlekiosk) August 19, 2019
Twitter says it proactively suspended 200,000 accounts from China before they were "substantially active."
— Jane Lytvynenko ??♀️??♀️??♀️ (@JaneLytv) August 19, 2019
Twitter's also disclosing 936 accounts originating from China that were created to "sow political discord in Hong Kong."
Data here:https://t.co/QdU5gZQIL6
BREAKING: Twitter says China-backed , deceptive information operation focused on the situation in Hong Konghttps://t.co/AwePqbATPc
— Nathan Law 羅冠聰 (@nathanlawkc) August 19, 2019
Twitter says it has identified a Chinese state-backed campaign to "sow political discord in Hong Kong" and has suspended more than 200,000 accountshttps://t.co/ujSN6uzhYo
— Thomas Daigle (@thomasdaigle) August 19, 2019
Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese trolls spreading doubts about Hong Kong protests https://t.co/pFxpO926zA pic.twitter.com/9RzuAqlzno
— The Verge (@verge) August 19, 2019
Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese trolls spreading doubts about Hong Kong protests https://t.co/zg9KSDhsM5 via @Verge
— arianna ciccone (@_arianna) August 19, 2019
Twitter helped to promote Chinese government propaganda & disinformation denying human rights violations in Xinjiang, where an estimated one million ethnic minority Uighurs have been held in internment camps. https://t.co/aezcxF4f1o
— Ryan Gallagher (@rj_gallagher) August 19, 2019
Amazing how a supposed investigative journalism outfit can turn around and produce a surprisingly stupid report that uncritically repeats propaganda from Western govs & their aligned NGOs about Big Scary China https://t.co/gCRQE5XzQY
— Morgan Artyukhina (@LavenderNRed) August 19, 2019
FB says it's taking down a disinfo campaign orchestrated by China targeting Hong Kong, but twitter goes further, says it won't accept any more ad buys from state-backed mediahttps://t.co/ynTxe0SbYMhttps://t.co/eSeLyv9yem
— rat king (@MikeIsaac) August 19, 2019
The company today announced a policy change that will bar such activity -- in the form of promoted tweets from state media orgs -- hours after an inquiry from The Intercept about Xinjiang & an earlier controversy over propaganda related to Hong Kong. https://t.co/gKynXNG3yp
— Ryan Gallagher (@rj_gallagher) August 19, 2019
We have updated our advertising policies. Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media. Find out more: https://t.co/V4wYRXQTtl
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) August 19, 2019
Twitter announces changes to its advertising policy, saying that it will no longer accept advertising from state-media. Statement available here: https://t.co/wdLySH74lN
— Kaori Yoshida 吉田圭織 (@KaoriYoshida_) August 19, 2019
Talking of big calls, Twitter also just stopped taking ads from "state-controlled news media entities".
— Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) August 19, 2019
Note that that does NOT include "taxpayer-funded entities, including independent public broadcasters."https://t.co/q88ruY2Sj1
Update on Twitter policy: "Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities." h/t @stegersaurus https://t.co/FV0cTItbiw https://t.co/vMWvt5VNj8
— Mary Hui (@maryhui) August 19, 2019
Updating our advertising policies on state media https://t.co/geNA0xcs1k we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities. Any affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter to engage in public conversation, just not our advertising products.
— Bill Bishop (@niubi) August 19, 2019
NEWS: Twitter updates policy, says “going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities” https://t.co/IFqdjHLztc
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) August 19, 2019
Good moves by @Twitter:
— Defending Democracy (@DefendDemocracy) August 19, 2019
? Disclosing & suspending China state-backed #InfoOps re #HongKongProtests https://t.co/NvYI9E2sVq
? No longer accepting advertising from state-controlled #propaganda outlets. Bye bye to promoted tweets RT_com, Sputnik, etc?https://t.co/0sYyJkWZoa pic.twitter.com/ou77Hz9Yvd
Deleted earlier tweets in light of this: "Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities. Affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter, just not our advertising products." https://t.co/j0b1K58DD0
— Samuel Wade (@samuel_wade) August 19, 2019
Twitter is updating advertisement policy. State media (of any country) will no longer be able to promote/advertise content. Response to broad abuses around the world. https://t.co/34Wk5yYjKK pic.twitter.com/yuNr6C7Kms
— Lukasz Olejnik (@lukOlejnik) August 19, 2019
Am I reading this right? Twitter bans Xinhua (good) but they can advertise for 30 more days?! https://t.co/hayVC3jF1k
— Pinboard (@Pinboard) August 19, 2019
Twitter says they’re no longer going to accept advertising from “state-controlled media outlets”https://t.co/mbBinjO7qp
— Alistair Coleman (@alistaircoleman) August 19, 2019
#Twitter: "Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news #media entities. Any affected accounts will be free to continue to use Twitter to engage in public conversation, just not our advertising products": https://t.co/7QZSeXlvhz #ethics #internet #tech
— Internet Ethics (@IEthics) August 19, 2019
well then you're going to love this announcement by twitter that came out like five minutes after the first one :D https://t.co/ekdsx5zNuQ
— Matt Schrader (@tombschrader) August 19, 2019
@zeynep there's another blog post too. Updating our advertising policies on state media - https://t.co/klyeDrfa62
— Tonsko Dabe (@Tonsko) August 19, 2019
Facebook and Twitter destroy the Chinese state's attempt to defame and destabilise the Hong Kong protest movement. Good. https://t.co/FYZ9XtY9GO
— Paul Mason (@paulmasonnews) August 19, 2019
Facebook announces ban on Chinese propaganda accounts, cites a tip from Twitter, which made same move earlier. https://t.co/Oxb9rHhnSa
— Peter Kafka (@pkafka) August 19, 2019
Facebook just announced their removals. They said they've taken down 5 accounts, 7 pages, and 3 groups. Much less than Twitter.
— Jane Lytvynenko ??♀️??♀️??♀️ (@JaneLytv) August 19, 2019
Facebook's announcement also doesn't make any data on the activity available, unlike Twitter.
Blog: https://t.co/3jdyZmHfG7
Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From China | Facebook Newsroom https://t.co/MvFvQEwrzD
— Bill Bishop (@niubi) August 19, 2019
Facebook removes Chinese-based disinformation accounts that focused on deceptive content on Hong Kong.
— Tim Mak (@timkmak) August 19, 2019
Interestingly, China is broaching new territory here -- shifting from merely information denial to active disinformation https://t.co/JocxVqiFeI
Yesssss! @Twitter bans advertising from "state-controlled news media entities" #HongKong 'bout time. https://t.co/kKiPs6Drvf
— Theresa Fallon (@TheresaAFallon) August 19, 2019
America hears the people of Hong Kong.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) August 18, 2019
President @realDonaldTrump: It is unacceptable that you are not standing up to President Xi as he intensifies his crackdown on democratic rights in Hong Kong.
The Chinese Communist Party must face consequences.https://t.co/QisBAgNdyo
This demonstration today with tens of thousands of protesters was banned by the Hong Kong police. The protestors ignored the ban. Laws shd be just. Unjust laws shd be defied. If our fathers had obeyed all of Smith unjust laws we would still be in Rhodesia!https://t.co/WFiCZAOB6F
— Siphosami Malunga (@SiphoMalunga) August 18, 2019
Incredible to see nearly 2 million people peacefully demand their rights. This administration’s response is utterly pathetic. It’s time to get off the sidelines and support them. https://t.co/9JFA6jhVkr
— Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) August 18, 2019
Hong Kong pro-democracy "organizers estimated at least 1.7 million people had turned out — nearly one in four of the total population of more than seven million." But Xi Jinping claims that Chinese people don't want democracy. https://t.co/f2G6lnZquB pic.twitter.com/YBhu75ZJu6
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) August 18, 2019
“I came here for the future of #HongKong and the next generation of #HongKong. The government has not responded to our demands...I have come out to march many times, and I will keep coming out if the government continues to not answer us.” @hrw_chinese https://t.co/EYx7qAadyi
— Sophie Richardson (@SophieHRW) August 19, 2019
트위터는 국가 제어 미디어 아울렛이 소셜 네트워크에 광고하는 것을 차단 https://t.co/Si5oDVzFXK
— lunamoth (@lunamoth) August 20, 2019
? After finding more than 900 accounts originating from inside China aimed at undermining protests in Hong Kong, Twitter announced it will no longer accept advertising from "state-controlled news media entities" ?https://t.co/LE2vatmutp
— Alex (@aroseblush) August 20, 2019
Twitter bans advertising from "state-controlled news media entities" https://t.co/7CYoNlOiK9
— Michael Sexton (@jmsexton_) August 20, 2019
After finding more than 900 accounts originating from inside China aimed at undermining protests in Hong Kong, Twitter announced it will no longer accept advertising from "state-controlled news media entities"https://t.co/z1S0OiSF3A
— Axios (@axios) August 20, 2019
Good. https://t.co/bL5zvcAYWC
— Howard Fineman (@howardfineman) August 19, 2019
More than thousands of twitter account must be backed by Beijing ‘state-backed information operation’ in order to spread fake news on HK Protest. Those accounts should be banned since they were used to manipulate people. https://t.co/89vDlINDXv
— Joshua Wong 黃之鋒 (@joshuawongcf) August 20, 2019
Twitter disclosed significant state-backed information operation originating from within China targeting pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. It removed 936 accounts+suspended ~200,000 accounts its investigation found were illegitimate https://t.co/gvWU4CvWsk
— CHRD人权捍卫者 (@CHRDnet) August 20, 2019
Twitter has removed 936 accounts and suspended approximately 200,000 that its investigation found illegitimate, reporting a “state-backed information operation” originating in the People’s Republic of China against the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement.https://t.co/zLopITGSQs
— World Ethical Data Forum (@WEDFglobal) August 20, 2019
#HongKong #China #AntiExtraditionLaw #InformationWarfare
— Taiwan Security Research 臺灣安全研究 (@taiwan_security) August 20, 2019
Twitter and Facebook have removed more than 1,000 accounts and suspended thousands of others tied to a campaign by the Chinese government against protesters in Hong Kong.https://t.co/XbsFGc1oS4
#Twitter removes nearly 1,000 accounts tied to China's campaign against #HongKongProtests | #Technology | Company also suspends thousands of accounts as it reports ‘state-backed information operation’ https://t.co/oZKeFxLM1u pic.twitter.com/uZDuSY5szf
— George Roussos (@baphometx) August 19, 2019
And the Chinese Gov complaints about the freedom of speech ?#chinazi https://t.co/M1Mo1wSSfv
— YY (@yy_leeyy) August 20, 2019
Twitter and Facebook crack down on accounts linked to Chinese campaign against Hong Konghttps://t.co/gXPrdmupiI #News #Bibleprophecy #Truth #Knowledge #Wisdom #Economist #Endtimes #Revelation
— Clinton Kowach (@clintonkowach) August 20, 2019
'Global warming is already here. Denying it is unforgivable.' - The Washington Post - https://t.co/AsX8jRPWa9 #climate
— John Lundin ? (@johnlundin) August 20, 2019
Twitter blocks state-controlled media outlets from advertising on its social networkhttps://t.co/GUdvANS4of
— Mama8 (@EverMama8) August 20, 2019
Twitter blocks state-controlled media outlets from #advertising on its social network
— ??????? ????????? ?????? (@Digitalmstream) August 19, 2019
'Policy announced hours after identifying an information operation involving hundreds of accounts linked to Chinahttps://t.co/wk9CsY0xPT via @TechCrunch#Technology #Twitter #socialmedia #tech pic.twitter.com/ykiluttfHY
Twitter blocks state-controlled media outlets from advertising on its social network https://t.co/pnoNJmlXsF
— Evan Kirstel (@evankirstel) August 19, 2019
【メモ】
— Ken Sugar? (@ken_sugar) August 19, 2019
米 #ツイッター（#Twitter）社、#香港デモ（#HongKongProtests） に関連し、中国国家関与の情報操作アカウントによる活動特定、情報を開示。（注：英語）https://t.co/uTDKRdNKji by @TwitterSafety
米テッククランチによる解説記事（注：英語）https://t.co/iIxsxtU9cN by @zackwhittaker
2/...using around 1000 known proxy “fake” Twitter accounts to sow deliberate political discord in Hong Kong surrounding the democratic demonstrations there. https://t.co/sdkOAbD8ZE
— Samuel Woolley (@samuelwoolley) August 19, 2019
Twitter found 936 accounts from China that "were deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground." @kateconger https://t.co/vuEz1vXoy0
— Steven Lee Myers (@stevenleemyers) August 19, 2019
Pretty remarkable, though not surprising! "Although most of the disinformation was spread by the 936 accounts that Twitter eventually took down, the company said it also uncovered a broader group of 200,000 accounts." https://t.co/EwLd7LJsCf
— Olivia Enos (@OliviaEnos) August 20, 2019
Twitter said it will stop accepting advertising from state-controlled news media organizations as it (and Facebook) crack down on Chinese accounts that accused Hong Kong protestors of violence and ulterior motives. @kateconger https://t.co/UXLGt52sKA
— Tiffany Hsu (@tiffkhsu) August 19, 2019
Facebook and Twitter Remove Accounts, Saying China Is Spreading Disinformation on Hong Kong protests. #hongkong https://t.co/oGmtqr0k8r
— Steve Chao (@SteveChaoSC) August 19, 2019
"Physician, Physician, Heal thine own limp!"
— J Nandakumar (@kumarnandaj) August 20, 2019
So, China, own your sermons. Start early…process it. Pray over it. Digest it. And believe it. And try to implement it there in your land. https://t.co/I0U3SezOdC
People of the world need to wake up and see what China is doing to Hong Kong. They were supposed to enjoy sovereignty for many more years yet are NOT living up to their word. This is going to happen everywhere soon enough. https://t.co/RCenQAZAQV
— Brantly from the Burgh (@BrantlyFrmBurgh) August 20, 2019
Twitter suspended 936 accounts, as well as 200,000 bots, while Facebook only suspended five accounts. Guess who I think is more serious about addressing the problem? NYT: Facebook and Twitter Say China Is Spreading Disinformation in Hong Kong https://t.co/rc0f3X8ffi
— James Mulvenon (@jmulvenon) August 20, 2019
?Twitter is actively halting the fake accounts, Facebook, not so much. Thank you @TwitterSafety for doing the right thing for democracy's sake.☮️
— Shannon Bearman ? (@BearmanShannon) August 20, 2019
Facebook and Twitter Say China Is Spreading Disinformation in Hong Kong https://t.co/MuVNKzu7LI
#Facebook & #Twitter just removed a first set of accounts, groups & pages linked to #China that were peddling #disinformation. China's target? #HongKong protesters. Twitter said it would ban promoted tweets from Chinese-backed media from its platform. https://t.co/7r6WwltWFM
— Siim Kumpas (@SiimKumpas) August 20, 2019
트위터, 홍콩을 상대로 한 중국의 국가차원의 여론조작 시도를 한 900여개의 계정을 정지하고 데이터를 일괄 공개. https://t.co/VbJ8IldqLT
— 푸른곰 (@purengom) August 19, 2019
Twitter has cut and preserved nearly 1k disinformation accounts from PRC "deliberately and specifically attempting to sow political discord in Hong Kong, including undermining the legitimacy and political positions of the protest movement on the ground"https://t.co/w60EDOiPFG
— (((Alexander Reid Ross))) (@areidross) August 19, 2019
Twitter said it identified a "spammy network of approximately 200,000 accounts" and will ban ads from "state-backed media sources" https://t.co/TOPJd1jpj6 pic.twitter.com/E89dxlCyV6
— Bloomberg TicToc (@tictoc) August 19, 2019
I felt a terrible disturbance in the force, as if a thousand wumao cried out and were suddenly silenced.https://t.co/NxR7TRsBsY
— James Palmer (@BeijingPalmer) August 19, 2019
This afternoon, Twitter and Facebook announced they identified and took down a significant disinformation campaign backed by the Chinese government and aimed at undermining the legitimacy of the protests in Hong Kong. Twitter removed 200,000+ accounts.https://t.co/PSkF7jcLOa
— Cindy Otis (@CindyOtis_) August 19, 2019
.@twitter finally does something right and suspends 936 (!) accounts that participated in a Chinese misinformation campaign on the Hong Kong #antiELAB protests (+ preemptively suspended 200k more accounts before they could become active). This is huge. https://t.co/e8DiQrkXo2
— Katharin Tai 戴愷琳 (@Whitey_chan) August 19, 2019
Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese trolls spreading doubts about Hong Kong protests https://t.co/pPrvS1ul51
— Amrita Bhinder (@amritabhinder) August 20, 2019
China appears to have done the impossible—getting Facebook and Twitter to work together. https://t.co/5doF1IUdQ8
— Abhishek Joshi (@kaalicharan) August 20, 2019
BTW both Twitter and Facebook are banned in China and can only be accessed through a VPN (virtual private network).
おお、Facebook と Twitter が中国政府が関与してると思われる偽アカウントを削除した模様。
— toru (@toru_ver15) August 20, 2019
Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese trolls spreading doubts about Hong Kong protests https://t.co/SkidRDvogo
Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese trolls spreading doubts about Hong Kong protests https://t.co/pFxpO926zA pic.twitter.com/30vJzh2ZiK
— The Verge (@verge) August 20, 2019
Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese information operation aimed at undermining the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement on social media https://t.co/99d2G06iH9
— Andrew MacGregor Marshall (@zenjournalist) August 20, 2019
Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese trolls spreading doubts about Hong Kong protests - The Verge https://t.co/eEL3BIfecM
— Y? (@yth1718) August 19, 2019
TROLLS....They are EVERYWHERE! #ScrewYouTroll #TWGRP7 ??Facebook and Twitter uncover Chinese trolls spreading doubts about Hong Kong protests https://t.co/C1QVmpouSn via @Verge
— Deborah Welp (@DebWelp) August 19, 2019
The Chinese Ministry of State Security is waging a massive disinformation campaign against the HK pro-democracy mvmnt. In part using ultra-Nationalist trolls...https://t.co/5vG2SZ6Kpr
— Paul Garlow (@PaulGGarlow) August 19, 2019
Twitter Helped Chinese Government Promote Disinformation https://t.co/oXvVzhrMfm
— Bob (@BOB_1and_only) August 20, 2019
Twitter Sells Chinese Government the Ability to Promote Disinformation: The Intercept https://t.co/NJfyiotJKN
— EcoInternet (@EcoInternetDrGB) August 20, 2019
Twitter Helped Chinese Government Promote Disinformation on Repression of Muslims https://t.co/Bwb2MrcDMQ
— عمو حسام ???? (@3arabawy) August 20, 2019
Prompt response from @Twitter ??
— hardmaru (@hardmaru) August 20, 2019
“Today, we are updating our advertising policies with respect to state media. Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities.”https://t.co/RHM5OgBwdKhttps://t.co/RoHd9pXrGa
Twitter says it will no longer accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities, as a global approach that will be enforced across our entire business.
— Negar Mortazavi (@NegarMortazavi) August 20, 2019
Does this also apply to US government media outlets, VOA, RFE/RL, Alhurra and others? https://t.co/32FMD1lVdp
Twitter followed up this takedown with another major announcement: Twitter will no longer accept advertising from state-controlled (either financially or editorially) news media. Presumably, this should apply to RT, Sputnik, Xinhua, etc.https://t.co/8kwSfWHkf5
— Cindy Otis (@CindyOtis_) August 19, 2019
Terrific decision by @Twitter ! Very significant change in policy: https://t.co/jYWiP7mOjn cc: @nickpickles @ColinCrowell @jack
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) August 19, 2019
Some of these state media are not like the others...Glad to see Twitter applying media freedom and editorial independence criteria to distinguish state-controlled media from other state-funded media ???https://t.co/JF6zZwJbES pic.twitter.com/8mnp0ZFQOI
— Jessica Ludwig (@JesLudwig) August 20, 2019
//Today, we are updating our advertising policies with respect to state media. Going forward, we will not accept advertising from state-controlled news media entities//
— Jeffie Lam (@jeffielam) August 20, 2019
Updating our advertising policies on state media https://t.co/dhAqHDwiui
We welcome Twitter’s decision today to ban ads from state-controlled media on its platform, after such Chinese outlets bought ads targeting Hong Kong protesters. https://t.co/0b9sDVW89M
— Freedom House (@freedomhouse) August 19, 2019
A belated but good decision by Twitter not to accept advertising from state propaganda organs. I repeat my customary warning to aspiring journalists: avoid @SputnikInt & @RTUKnews, lest your career be over before it’s begun. https://t.co/CeYMUJ0siU
— Oliver Kamm (@OliverKamm) August 19, 2019
This is important.
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) August 20, 2019
Updating our advertising policies on state media https://t.co/3VM4Guxkc2
Updating our advertising policies on state media https://t.co/QGWI4eWe3V
— Colin Crowell (@ColinCrowell) August 19, 2019
Finally. Chinese State media advertise on @twitter, while it is banned in #China. Be careful about allowing “travel” posts by those entities. They do a lot of propaganda about what happens in #Tibet #Xinjang https://t.co/3Sj63ONScA
— Matteo Mecacci (@MatteoMecacci) August 20, 2019
I'm not sure what this says about the low expectations I have for social media and regular media *cough* NYT *cough* WaPo taking money from Chinese state-run media, but I was honestly surprised when Twitter said they weren't going to do it anymore. https://t.co/xYzswaABIr
— Shelley Zhang (@shelzhang) August 20, 2019
All of us #HongKong users have been seeing promoted tweets by Xinhua News for weeks, but Twitter has decided to update their policy and will no longer accept advertising from state-controlled media entities. #antiELAB https://t.co/VqDbZVagOk
— Alex Lam 林偉聰 (@lwcalex) August 20, 2019
Glad to see @Twitter is working on updating its advertising policies on state media by using @UNESCO’s framework to assess media development and independence. #MDI #MediaDev #MediaIndicators https://t.co/9FFTtqfcDX
— Moez Chakchouk (@mchakchouk) August 20, 2019
Twitter bans advertising from state-controlled news outlets https://t.co/PWNsavmjdl via @engadget
— londonyc ? (@londonyc) August 20, 2019
I just wish they would do the same for the UK!#JustMakeItStop
Twitter bans advertising from state-controlled news outlets /// ? https://t.co/jl7iJI4t3o
— Jay Holler (@jayholler) August 20, 2019
.@facebook removed pages, groups & accounts “involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior as part of a small network that originated in China and focused on Hong Kong... our investigation found links to individuals associated with the Chinese government.” https://t.co/HspjQD3lO7
— Laurel Chor (@laurelchor) August 20, 2019
In Canada, concerns about online Chinese foreign influence have centred around Chinese language apps like “we chat”. Most focus is on in-person operations. To my mind, this is one of the first exposures of a campaign of this nature by China. #cdnfp https://t.co/VkS56nQsX7
— Stephanie Carvin (@StephanieCarvin) August 20, 2019
Dear #FB People need to know more, eg what parts of govt/ “persons” or units r behind this: “individuals associated with the Chinese government”. Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From China – Facebook Newsroom https://t.co/7PiSWZiGRK
— Didi Kirsten Tatlow (@dktatlow) August 19, 2019
so is facebook ("based on a tip shared by twitter") https://t.co/cTZOHVMcE3
— David Kaye (@davidakaye) August 19, 2019
@facebook:
— #AntiELAB Fight for Hong Kong (@Fight4HongKong) August 20, 2019
//Today, we removed seven Pages, three Groups and five Facebook accounts involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior as part of a small network that originated in China and focused on Hong Kong.//https://t.co/cjEjjoBqrq#AntiELAB #HongKong #HK
Facebook also found a Chinese info campaign targeting Hong Kong after cooperation with Twitter's investigation: https://t.co/93Yioq0LgQ
— Patrick Howell O'Neill (@HowellONeill) August 19, 2019
.@facebook: “Today, we removed seven Pages, three Groups and five #Facebook accounts involved in coordinated inauthentic behavior as part of a small network that originated in #China and focused on #HongKong.” https://t.co/l3HxBJCjDM
— Andrew Erickson 艾立信 (@AndrewSErickson) August 20, 2019
Facebook also does something(TM), but only removes 5 accounts, 7 pages and 3 groups, which seems much less impactful in comparison, but still good on them. Guess they’re done trying to get into the Chinese market. https://t.co/SpBHmaOouf
— Katharin Tai 戴愷琳 (@Whitey_chan) August 19, 2019
One interesting thing from the @ngleicher blog post today- FB found the Chinese accounts engaging in disinformation following a tip from Twitter. https://t.co/bCyAl2It5u
— Sheera Frenkel (@sheeraf) August 19, 2019
Cool that Facebook and Twitter teamed up for this takedown. But let's not forget that Twitter was still selling advertising to anti-HK groups (probably the Chinese government) as late as this weekend.
— Jake Williams (@MalwareJake) August 19, 2019
There was NEVER a question about who bought those ads.https://t.co/VYpOrkmN1O
The Facebook activity follows standard disinformation operating procedure - accounts pose as news, seed environment to build audience, emotive content to shape sentiment, then harvest audience off into external disinfo ecosystem (6/9) https://t.co/XioEwn8nzi
— Dr Jake Wallis (@JakeWallis_ASPI) August 20, 2019
#HongKong, rightly so, taking up a lot of space in today’s @nytimes (the home delivery version). Here’s a link to the story: https://t.co/Moh1Qd98Jk @austinramzy @zhonggg Eye-catching advert to the side. #HongKongProtests #antiELAB pic.twitter.com/gmo7HKWnfw
— Kris Olds (@GlobalHigherEd) August 19, 2019
"Organizers estimated at least 1.7 million people had turned out — nearly one in four of the total population of more than seven million [...]"https://t.co/PlYNb4bMQU
— Pete Irwin (@PeteCIrwin) August 19, 2019