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SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM TikTok dismantled a “covert influence operation” that targeted users in Ireland with “divisive views” on nationalism in an attempt to “intensify social conflict”, the company has confirmed.
In total, 72 accounts were found to be part of the network – all of which were removed from the platform earlier this year.
Some 94,743 users were following the 72 accounts in question.
TikTok confirmed the figures in a report sent to the European Commission.
A new code of conduct agreement requires technology companies to make the EC aware of levels of disinformation on their platforms and efforts to combat it.
In the report, which covers the first half of 2023, TikTok noted that this particular covert network “targeted Irish audiences”.
“The individuals behind this network created inauthentic accounts; hyper-posted content with divisive views related to nationalism in Ireland, Japan, Russia, and Taiwan; and hyper-posted comments with similar low-quality content in an attempt to redirect TikTok users off-platform and to intensify social conflict,” the report notes.
Meta
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, was also among the companies to send a report to the European Commission.
Meta confirmed that over 1,100,000 pieces of content on Facebook in Ireland were treated with fact checks due to “violating assessment by third party fact checkers” between 1 January and 31 December.
During the same period, over 92,000 items of content were treated with fact checks on Instagram in Ireland.
The number of unique pieces of content that were removed from Facebook and Instagram in Ireland respectively for violating European Union policies on harmful health misinformation or voter or census interference were ‘over 960′ and ‘less than 500′.
The overall number of ads removed on Facebook and Instagram in Ireland combined in the first six months of the year was over 63,000, however less than 500 ads were removed from the platforms for violating Meta’s misinformation policy in the EU.
In its report to the EC, Meta stated that its ad review process “may include the specific components of an ad, such as images, video, text and targeting information, as well as an ad’s associated landing page or other destinations, among other information”.
“More specifically, once fact-checking partners have determined that a piece of content contains misinformation, we use technology to identify identical and near-identical versions across Facebook. If we find ads that are identical or near identical to content fact-checkers have rated, we reject them,” the report notes.
X, formerly known as Twitter, withdrew from the European Commission code of conduct, but the EC said the platform has the highest rate of misinformation on social media platforms.
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Forget a warning, a good kick up the hole is what they need!
Any many want to outlaw parents slapping their kids…yeah right
Ah but most parents put in the time and effort required to raise decent kids! The odd tap on the hand is usually enough to deter bad behaviour at a young age as well as sitting down and talking with kids about their behaviour and the consequences of their actions! Parents who don’t put in the time and effort raise toerags like those mentioned in the above article and by the time the kids reach their teens the damage is near irreversible! Giving kids like that a warning or letting them off with a slap on the wrist is not going to deter them but a good kick up the backside just might make them realise the error of their ways before they move on to commiting more serious crimes!
Was in Derry for the first time a few weeks ago and I must say it is a lovely little city with very friendly and welcoming locals. I was very impressed. It is an absolute shame that there are little arseholes like this intent on causing trouble and trying to keep the city, and the North in general, rooted in the past.
Parents don’t care. Too busy getting drunk in the pub.
See that’s the problem when you have kids rearing themselves .
All my mother had to do years ago was reach for the cutlery drawer…. The Fear of the wooden spoon emerging would make you soon behave! God forbid the little darlings nowadays could be threatened with the rattle of the cutlery drawer….
Go to meeting house square in Temple Bar any night and you’ll see how many parents don’t give a flying fcuk. Drunk and drugged out of their minds and causing mayhem. Gaurds only move them along and they are back 20 mins later. When they do arrest some they are told by parents to drop them home like they are babysitting service…
Parents need to be held accountable for the behaviour of the children they have. Some of these teens are wild to the point of being almost feral. Children found behaving like this need some seriously tough discipline, if the parents can’t do it give them to the army for a few months.
I honestly don’t think the army is the place for them. A borstal type system based on the Japanese penal system is what Id suggest.
Battle Royale ?
Not quiet but an interesting idea.
I’ve said it before, but the north is a mad kip. Riots, car-jackings. Kids gets stabbed and shot – always seems to be the North. Liz, you broke it, you can keep it.
I’m pretty sure that there are more parties in NI than SF but don’t let that stop you for blaming them for everything. In fact it’s the SDLP who are the largest party on Derry City Council so why not have a pop at them?
This would be a SF ward Brian
Yep Scarr you are completely right, things like this never happen South of the border …..like the disabled man threatened to be raped and set on fire by a group of youths in Dublin a few days ago?
Forgive me Journal, but why is ok to comment on this story but not on the horrific murder of a child in France?
Because there isn’t a court case under way.
Two youths were arrested and released on police bail?
The court case still hasn’t begun yet , once it starts then comments would close .
What’s this got to do with the Republic
The Republic of where exactly?
In fairness Co. Derry should be governed by the South. Hugh nationalist population and they play ball in the League of Ireland. Send in the Garda in Ford Transit Connects to sort out these gurriers. Be grand.
Playing soccer in the South is reason enough to leave them tied with the other 5.
good job guys…2 out of 40.And after arrests nothing will happen…
It’s the crèche generation. Kids raised by strangers. No sense of family or respect for anything. Been giving everything they want by parents trying to make up for lack of parenting. The future is bleak.
have your say