A study of internet freedom in 65 countries found 30 governments are deploying some form of manipulation to distort online information, up from 23 the previous year
AFP: More governments manipulate media with 'bots,' trolls: study
More governments are following the lead of Russia and China by manipulating social media and suppressing dissent online in a grave threat to democracy, a human rights watchdog said on Tuesday.
A study of internet freedom in 65 countries found 30 governments are deploying some form of manipulation to distort online information, up from 23 the previous year.
These efforts included paid commentators, trolls, "bots" -- the name given to automated accounts -- false news sites and propaganda outlets, according to the 2017 "Freedom on the Net" report by human rights group Freedom House.
The report said online manipulation and disinformation tactics played an important role in elections in at least 18 countries over the past year, including the United States.
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WNU Editor: The blow-back to governments trying to manipulate the media from the U.S. government appears to be .... regulate the industry .... Al Franken Just Gave the Speech Big Tech Has Been Dreading (WIRED). In other-words .... determine what is permissible. If that is not manipulating social media, then I do not know what is.
