[Smithy]

Far-right political groups have been using fake accounts and co-ordinated behaviour on Twitter to amplify pro-Leave views, according to new research.

In a study examining Brexit-related activity on Twitter, researchers from cyber security firm F-Secure identified fake accounts had been attempting to influence both sides of the debate.

However, the firm found that astroturfing - the practice of faking grassroots support for a cause or subject - was "far more prominent in Leave conversations" than on Remain's side.

They found this by examining tweets made between 4 December 2018 and 13 February 2019, well after the referendum, but during a critical time of parliamentary debate.

Their work noted that the goal of the astroturfing was to "amplify right-wing populist views around Brexit and other political issues, such as the Yellow Vest protests in France".

"The activity we found happening on the Leave side of the Brexit conversation was quite different from the more organic appearance seen in the Remain conversation," said Andy Patel, a senior researcher with F-Secure.

"And inorganic activity, in relation to political movements and events, can sometimes be indicative of astroturfing or the spread of disinformation," added Mr Patel.

At the very least, our research shows there's a global effort amongst the far-right to amplify the 'Leave' side of the debate."

Twitter is the only social media platform which allows researchers this kind of access

A large part of the work by F-Secure has been to establish new ways of identifying fake accounts, especially ones which consistently push pro-Leave, anti-Muslim, and US-related right-wing content.

In February 2018, the US filed charged against 13 employees of a Russian troll factory and accused them attempting of attempting to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

It found that the troll factory had been conducting disinformation operations across all of the major social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

While the indictment remains the premier legal document regarding fake accounts on social media, little information is publicly available on platforms other than Twitter, as they do not allow researchers to access them.

Finnish firm F-Secure analysed 24 million tweets which included the word "Brexit" for "evidence of botnets, disinformation campaigns, astroturfing, or other inorganic phenomenon".

"Social networks generate huge volumes of data. Finding noteworthy trends and phenomena in this data can be complicated, resource-intensive work," explained Mr Patel.

"But social media is an important source of news and information that many people are still learning how to use.

We really hope people see this research, see how much more there is to learn, and start building on our methods to create new, better understandings of what happens on social media."

[reece(:]

More cheating and lies from leavers? Am I shocked?

[Twosugars]

there's a surprise

[Oliver_W]

Wouldn't be surprised, using fake accounts to stir siht up is an old trick for both sides.

[arista]

Originally Posted by reece(:

More cheating and lies from leavers? Am I shocked?

Not all Leavers are Far Right

[Wizard.]

Didn’t remain do that during the actual referendum hence the *SHOCK* result because surely if it isn’t a popular opinion on Twitter then it can’t be true?

Anyway it’s a bit sad of anyone creating fake profile to *amplify* a “voice” as it doesn’t really achieve anything but at the same time it’s not exactly hurting anyone or hijacking a vote.

[Alf]

And?

[Alf]

Originally Posted by arista

Not all Leavers are Far Right

Don’t spoil the fantasy Arista.

I bet you're the sort of person that tells children that Father Christmas isn't real?

[Beso]

Tech firm claims to solve everything from their data news shocker....yawn.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by arista

Not all Leavers are Far Right

No but all far right are leavers

[arista]

Originally Posted by Alf

Don’t spoil the fantasy Arista.

I bet you're the sort of person that tells children that Father Christmas isn't real?

No not kids


Xmas is for Kids

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Smithy

No but all far right are leavers

Prove it

[arista]

Originally Posted by Smithy

No but all far right are leavers

Of course.

[Oliver_W]

LT is that Shirley Manson in your avatar?

[bots]

it's a well known fact that Russia interfered with the vote trying to force Brexit ... not exactly a far right group, but there you go

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

LT is that Shirley Manson in your avatar?

Elizabeth Moss

[Northern Monkey]

Doesn’t surprise me.

It’s the internet.It’s like the wild west.

[Tom4784]

It's not a surprise, deceit and the spreading of falsities is often a Right Wing tactic.

[James]

Twitter is not in anyway a genuine representation of where public opinion is at. For one thing Twitter skews towards people who are dogmatic about an issue.

It's a bit sad for our politics that so much consideration is given to what is said on there.

[Alf]

Originally Posted by James

Twitter is not in anyway a genuine representation of where public opinion is at. For one thing Twitter skews towards people who are dogmatic about an issue.

It's a bit sad for our politics that so much consideration is given to what is said on there.

I don't know, where else is a bigger arena for the general public to have their say?

[Withano]

No surprise really. Sad people living a sad life and doing sad things.