Meta Develops Measures Aimed At Combating Manipulation

The rise of social media has created a powerful platform for people to connect and share information. However, it has also opened up new avenues for malicious actors to spread misinformation and influence public opinion. 

In recent years, Meta, one of the world’s largest social media networks, has become a target for coordinated influence operations. In response to the discovery that Russian-linked agents utilized Facebook to sway US electorate during the 2016 Presidential Election, Meta has adopted a vigilant approach to addressing such security challenges. In its latest report, the company has outlined the steps it has taken to combat these operations and the results of its efforts.

Since 2016, Meta has detected and removed more than 200 covert influence operations. Additionally, the company has disseminated insights into each network's activities among its industry peers, enabling collective learning from the same dataset and fostering the development of more effective strategies to combat these threats.

According to Meta, the United States is the most targeted country, followed by Ukraine and the UK. This could be attributed to the US’s influence over global policy, as well as the popularity of social networks in these regions.

In its efforts to tackle mass manipulation, Meta has implemented a number of measures. The company has deployed artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to detect and remove suspicious accounts and content. 

It has also developed a set of Community Standards that outline what is and is not acceptable behavior on the platform. Furthermore, Meta has established a Transparency Center that offers insights into the corporation's initiatives aimed at thwarting organized attempts to manipulate public opinion.

Meta has also partnered with external organizations to help identify and address these issues. For example, the company has worked with the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab to identify and remove accounts linked to foreign interference. 

Additionally, Meta has partnered with the Global Network Initiative to develop and implement policies that protect users’ privacy and freedom of expression.