Bots, fakes and lies: TikTok discovers ‘covert influence operation’ targeting Ireland

What do we know about the network and its aims?

Listen | 27:42
Between March and June, TikTok removed 67,013 fake accounts in Ireland, including bots and accounts set to automatically post content, which together had almost 300,000 followers at the time of their removal. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA.
Between March and June, TikTok removed 67,013 fake accounts in Ireland, including bots and accounts set to automatically post content, which together had almost 300,000 followers at the time of their removal. Photograph: Yui Mok/PA.

A network promoting disinformation to Irish TikTok users with the aim of “intensifying social conflict” has been discovered and removed by the social media giant. The information was disclosed in data reported by TikTok to the European Commission under a new code of conduct that requires major tech platforms to report disinformation on their networks and detail their efforts to combat it.

The network originated in Ireland but little else has been revealed by the company. Irish Times Europe Correspondent Naomi O’Leary explains to In the News how disinformation is spreading on social media, how users are resistant to fact checking measures and what it means. Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Suzanne Brennan

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast