Facebook parent Meta Platforms released a network of fake accounts that began in Iran and targeted Instagram users in Scotland with content supporting Scottish independence, as per the views of the company’s investigators on January 20.
Meta added that the network used a fake account to pose as a localite in England and Scotland, publishing photos and memes about the current events and criticising them and the policies of the UK government.
The fake accounts post several comments about Scottish independence, and they manage their content using common hashtags, encouraging the reason, though at times misspelt them, as per the company. The account also posted about football and UK cities to make the mythical personas seem more accurate.
Meta said, some of the fake accounts used pictures, likely those they created using AI techniques, while some used photos of media personalities and other celebrities from the UK and Iraq as their profile pictures.
In a popular vote on Scottish independence in 2014, Scots voted 55 per cent- 45 percent stay in the United Kingdom. But, both Brexit and the British government handling the crisis of COVID-19 have strengthened support for independence among Scots and demand for a second vote.
Meta added that their investigation found links to individuals in Iran, including people who have past links with English teaching as a foreign language.
It also said that the procedure had some links with a small Iran base network it earlier removed in December 2020, which mostly targetted Arabic, French, and English-speaking audiences using fake accounts but did not share their further details on who might be the face behind this activity.
“We’ve witnessed a range of operations coming from Iran over the last few years,” said Ben Nimmo.
As per the social media company, they had removed the eight Facebook accounts and 126 Instagram accounts as part of their network in December to not follow the rules against coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
Meta also added that it removed a network generated mainly in Mexico in December. Their target audience includes countries like Honduras, Ecuador, and El Salvador and networks that developed in Turkey, and their target audience is in Libya.