Fewer Bots, More Ads: The Pentagon's Evolving Online Influence Campaigns
8 hours ago
- #Pentagon
- #Propaganda
- #Disinformation
- A 2022 report exposed Pentagon-linked online influence operations using fake personas and coordinated inauthentic behavior, which were largely ineffective.
- Following the report, the Pentagon reviewed its psychological operations, leading to an evolved model post-2022.
- Newer operations, identified as a 'third generation,' involve websites like Al-Fassel and Pishtaz News, with less overt attribution to CENTCOM.
- These sites rely on paid advertising rather than fake accounts for reach, garnering tens of millions of views on platforms like X and Meta.
- Content is often factually supportable but framed to advance strategic narratives, focusing on regions like the Middle East, Latin America, and Russian-speaking audiences.
- Audiences have actively challenged the content using tools like Grok and Community Notes, showing skepticism towards the propaganda.
- The propaganda model now emphasizes selective storytelling and omission over fabrication, blending state-funded content with commercial ad strategies.