Disinformation, Lies, and Profit: The Wild West of the South China Sea
Hello there, folks! Today, we’re diving into the murky world of online disinformation, where facts are as rare as a clean politician in a corrupt government. Our story begins in the South China Sea, where tensions between China and the Philippines are running high. But, as we’ll discover, it’s not just the navies that are clashing – it’s also the fake news merchants.
According to an AFP investigation, a network of dodgy Facebook and YouTube channels has been spreading unfounded claims about the conflict, all in the name of profit. Now, I know what you’re thinking: "Jimmy, Rowan, Ricky, and Lee, what’s the big deal? It’s just a few fake news sites." Well, my friends, it’s not just a few sites – it’s a whole ecosystem of deceit, with dozens of channels and pages raking in the cash from unsuspecting readers.
The Anatomy of a Fake News Site
These bogus news sites use AI to churn out article after article, each one more outlandish than the last. They’re like a digital version of a bad comedy club, where the jokes are stale, and the audience is gullible. But, instead of laughs, they’re after your clicks – and your cash.
One site, which we’ll call "Fake News Inc.," has a whopping 7.1 million followers across its network. That’s more than the population of some small countries! And, with ads plastered all over the site, it’s no wonder the owners are raking it in. But, as one analyst noted, "it’s a horrific business; a lot of it is built around preying on people."
The Usual Suspects
Now, I know some of you are thinking, "But, Jimmy, Rowan, Ricky, and Lee, who’s behind all this?" Well, the AFP investigation suggests that it’s a network of individuals and companies, possibly linked to state actors – or, at the very least, sympathetic to their cause. But, let’s be real, folks, in the world of online disinformation, it’s often difficult to separate fact from fiction.
The Impact
So, what’s the harm in a few fake news sites, you might ask? Well, my friends, the impact is very real. For one, it erodes trust in institutions and governments. And, in the case of the South China Sea, it can fuel tensions and misinformation, potentially leading to conflict.
As one analyst noted, "it doesn’t really matter whether it’s a state actor or someone in their bedroom spreading misinformation to make money. The impact is the same." And, let’s not forget, folks, in the world of online disinformation, it’s often the readers who are left feeling foolish – and sometimes, fearful.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, folks – a tale of fake news, profit, and the Wild West of the South China Sea. It’s a story that’s both fascinating and frightening, a reminder that, in the digital age, the truth is often just a click away – but, sometimes, it’s harder to find than a needle in a haystack.
As we sign off, remember: always fact-check, folks, and never take anything at face value. And, if you’re feeling generous, maybe send a few quid to your favorite fact-checking organization. After all, in the world of online disinformation, the truth is a valuable commodity – and it’s worth fighting for.
Sources:
- AFP investigation
- Institute for Strategic Dialogue
- Digital Forensic Research Lab
- Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Related Articles:
- The Rise of Fake News in the Digital Age
- The Impact of Disinformation on Global Politics
- How to Spot a Fake News Site
Share Your Thoughts:
Have you ever fallen victim to a fake news site? How do you fact-check online? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Here is the rewritten article:
MANILA, Nov 27 — A sophisticated network of disinformation operators is exploiting tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, fabricating sensationalist stories to rake in advertising revenue and potentially destabilize regional security, an AFP investigation has uncovered.
Since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos took office in 2022, vowing to stand up to China’s aggressive territorial claims, social media platforms have been inundated with exaggerated claims about the country’s military capabilities and impending war in the region, sparking widespread concern and misinformation.
A painstaking AFP probe has exposed a vast, coordinated network of dozens of Facebook and YouTube channels that funnel users to a fake news website, which leverages artificial intelligence to churn out unfounded, attention-grabbing stories designed to generate lucrative ad revenue.
Experts warn that while it is unclear whether this network is directly linked to state actors, the content often eerily mirrors China’s position on the dispute, casting a shadow over the true intentions of the individuals or organizations behind this operation.
Collectively, the network’s associated pages and channels have amassed a staggering following of over 10 million people, underscoring the profound impact of this disinformation campaign on public opinion and regional security.
Elise Thomas, a senior analyst at London’s Institute for Strategic Dialogue think tank, noted that revenue-driven disinformation campaigns have emerged as a “big industry” in South-east Asia, where labor costs are relatively low, making it an attractive hub for these operations.
“It is a horrific business; a lot of it is built around preying on people,” Thomas said, highlighting the sinister nature of this enterprise.
AFP discovered at least 25 Facebook “military interest” pages that grossly misrepresented old photos and videos of army operations, falsely claiming that Washington was helping its ally Manila prepare for war.
One such page featured a digitally altered picture of Ukraine soldiers transporting crates, which was manipulated to suggest that the US was sending Javelin anti-tank missiles to the Philippines.
Other posts, debunked by AFP, claimed “thousands of American troops” were coming to the aid of the Philippines, using a photo of British troops leaving Afghanistan in 2021.
All 25 Facebook pages shared similar posts that linked to the same news website, which appeared to be American but was actually based in the Thai capital Bangkok.
This website, flooded with sponsored advertisements, was further linked to dozens of other Facebook sites with a combined following of 7.1 million users, promoting a range of topics from home design to US celebrities and Catholicism.
AFP tracked down the manager of the Thailand-based network by scouring the registrations of web domains, who revealed that he earns through ad placements on click-bait content created by a “group of friends” rather than receiving payment from an individual.
His team often relies on other news sites for prompts, and “sometimes it’s as simple as copy-pasting,” he admitted.
AFP found that each page from the bogus news site carried dozens of ad trackers used to measure views, highlighting the lucrative nature of this disinformation operation.
Meta, which owns Facebook, declined to comment on the spread of such posts, despite AFP and over 90 other fact-checking organizations being paid by Meta to verify posts that potentially contain false information.
Violent confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea are being manipulated online by disinformation networks for profit, posing risks to regional security, an AFP investigation has found. — Reuters pic
China has long sought to expand its presence in contested areas of the South China Sea, disregarding an international ruling that its claim to most of the waterway has no legal basis.
It has built artificial islands armed with missile systems and runways for fighter jets, and deployed vessels that the Philippines says harass its ships and block its fishers.
Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner issued a warning in June about an “alarming surge in disinformation campaigns” designed to erode public trust “in our institutions and the government”.
Experts warn that while there is no evidence directly linking the offshore network to Beijing or other state actors, its content mirrors “official Chinese talking points”, sparking concerns about the true intentions behind this disinformation campaign.
“China’s longstanding counter-narrative has been that it’s actually the US that is destabilizing the Asia-Pacific and pushing everyone closer to conflict,” said Kenton Thibaut, a senior fellow at Washington’s Digital Forensic Research Lab.
Albert Zhang, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told AFP that the behavior of the network behind the misinformation appears “consistent” with state-sponsored disinformation campaigns outsourced to commercial entities.
“It doesn’t really matter whether it’s a state actor or someone in their bedroom spreading misinformation to make money,” said analyst Thomas. “The impact is the same.”
Some Filipinos engaging with the disinformation expressed fear over the possibility of war breaking out.
Facebook user Edison Labasan Tejuco, who shared a false post, told AFP: “The US is fooling the Philippines into going to war with China on its behalf”. — AFP
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