Influence an Election for Just $400K: Trend Micro Uncovers the Fake News Machine
While not exactly a new phenomenon, the concept of fake news has risen rapidly in the public consciousness to dominate much online discourse over the past 18 months. But what exactly is it, how does it spread and who’s behind it? A ground-breaking new Trend Micro report, The Fake News Machine, reveals all.
A major industry
As the 77-page report reveals, this is a huge industry, which spans the globe, albeit with different local characteristics in China, Russia and the English-speaking world. We’re not just talking about influencing elections here, of course, although that’s what many will associate with fake news following the events of the past year. It can also be done to denigrate rival companies, promote one’s own products, or even to create fake celebrities.
It’s spread exclusively via social media and tools and services can be bought completely anonymously only the Dark Web and underground forums, so that even nation states could claim plausible deniability. But what many probably don’t understand is that fake news usually amounts to more than those reactionary “fake victim” posts we’ve seen recently after terror incidents. It is a strategic, longer-term propaganda campaign designed to change public opinion – all of which takes plenty of time and resources to plan.
Just as the gossip of diplomats and emissaries within the courts of European kings and queens attempted to influence the outcome of wars in centuries past, so fake news is being used as a political weapon to impact international politics.
Time to fight the fakers
The good news is that governments and social media networks are already starting to clamp down on this dangerous public opinion manipulation. But it really has to start with greater news literacy and awareness on the part of the public. Watch out for the following, all tell-tale signs of fake news:
· Hyperbolic and clickbait headlines
· Suspicious website domains that spoof legitimate news media
· Misspellings in content and awkwardly laid out website
· Obviously edited photos and images
· No publishing timestamps
· No author, sources or data
For more information, please take a look at the full report or message me.