This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67803493
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Ugandan internet propaganda network exposed by the BBC | Ugandan internet propaganda network exposed by the BBC |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Dr Jamechia Hoyle was one of the women whose faces were used to create fake online personas | Dr Jamechia Hoyle was one of the women whose faces were used to create fake online personas |
| A BBC investigation has uncovered a network of fake social media accounts in Uganda. Under false identities, they spread pro-government messaging and target critics with threats. But who are the people behind it? | A BBC investigation has uncovered a network of fake social media accounts in Uganda. Under false identities, they spread pro-government messaging and target critics with threats. But who are the people behind it? |
| It is not every day that you get to take a selfie with the long-serving President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni. When the opportunity arose, Dr Jamechia Hoyle went for it. | It is not every day that you get to take a selfie with the long-serving President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni. When the opportunity arose, Dr Jamechia Hoyle went for it. |
| She is a senior consultant in the United States, focused on global health security. Back in October 2017, she had travelled to the Ugandan capital, Kampala, to attend an international conference. | She is a senior consultant in the United States, focused on global health security. Back in October 2017, she had travelled to the Ugandan capital, Kampala, to attend an international conference. |
| Mr Museveni was there to welcome his foreign guests. | Mr Museveni was there to welcome his foreign guests. |
| Making her way through the crowds, Dr Hoyle approached him, smartphone in hand. "He was really happy to engage with us and take the picture," she recalls. | Making her way through the crowds, Dr Hoyle approached him, smartphone in hand. "He was really happy to engage with us and take the picture," she recalls. |
| Seeing a broad-smiling Dr Hoyle and the president, surrounded by smiling faces trying to get in the shot, photographers couldn't resist - and they too captured that image. | Seeing a broad-smiling Dr Hoyle and the president, surrounded by smiling faces trying to get in the shot, photographers couldn't resist - and they too captured that image. |
| Dr Jamechia Hoyle took a selfie with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni | Dr Jamechia Hoyle took a selfie with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni |
| Four years later, this exact photo would be used to create a fake social media account aimed at spreading state propaganda and targeting government critics. | Four years later, this exact photo would be used to create a fake social media account aimed at spreading state propaganda and targeting government critics. |
| Dr Hoyle only recently found out about it, after the BBC got in touch with her. | Dr Hoyle only recently found out about it, after the BBC got in touch with her. |
| "Seeing my own picture and then understanding the context of some of the things that were shared... I couldn't believe it," she says. "I was truly taken aback." | "Seeing my own picture and then understanding the context of some of the things that were shared... I couldn't believe it," she says. "I was truly taken aback." |
| Listen to BBC Trending: Crude fakes in Uganda on BBC Sounds. | Listen to BBC Trending: Crude fakes in Uganda on BBC Sounds. |
| 'Fake Jamechia' steps in | 'Fake Jamechia' steps in |
| The fake account using Dr Hoyle's photo was created on X, then called Twitter, in October 2021. | The fake account using Dr Hoyle's photo was created on X, then called Twitter, in October 2021. |
| From early on, it appeared to have no interests outside Ugandan politics, regularly posting in praise of the Ugandan government and its policies. | From early on, it appeared to have no interests outside Ugandan politics, regularly posting in praise of the Ugandan government and its policies. |
| In one of the account's first tweets, "fake Jamechia" praised the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda's ruling party | In one of the account's first tweets, "fake Jamechia" praised the National Resistance Movement (NRM), Uganda's ruling party |
| Much harsher words - including occasional threats - were directed at opposition supporters and government critics. | Much harsher words - including occasional threats - were directed at opposition supporters and government critics. |
| "We know you support terrorist activities", the account posted without presenting any evidence, in response to a tweet from opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi. | "We know you support terrorist activities", the account posted without presenting any evidence, in response to a tweet from opposition leader Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi. |
| "You will die", read a separate tweet directed at Hillary Innocent Taylor Seguya, a Ugandan climate activist based in the US and a member of Mr Wine's party, the National Unity Platform. | "You will die", read a separate tweet directed at Hillary Innocent Taylor Seguya, a Ugandan climate activist based in the US and a member of Mr Wine's party, the National Unity Platform. |
| On social media, Mr Seguya has become known for his criticism of one of Uganda's flagship projects: the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). | On social media, Mr Seguya has become known for his criticism of one of Uganda's flagship projects: the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). |
| Mr Seguya says EACOP poses a "grave risk" to the environment | Mr Seguya says EACOP poses a "grave risk" to the environment |
| When finished, the $3.5bn (£2.7bn) pipeline will connect Uganda's oil fields to Tanzania's port of Tanga, along a 1,445km (898 mile) route. | When finished, the $3.5bn (£2.7bn) pipeline will connect Uganda's oil fields to Tanzania's port of Tanga, along a 1,445km (898 mile) route. |
| What you need to know about EACOP | What you need to know about EACOP |
| Supporters of the project say it will create thousands of jobs and generate millions in oil revenue. | Supporters of the project say it will create thousands of jobs and generate millions in oil revenue. |
| But critics have argued that EACOP could prove disruptive for local communities, while having a significant impact on the environment. | But critics have argued that EACOP could prove disruptive for local communities, while having a significant impact on the environment. |
| "Trolls keep coming for me on a daily basis," he says. "They keep labelling me as the enemy of progress in Uganda and Africa. Sometimes they call me a 'US-backed puppet' or a sell-out." | "Trolls keep coming for me on a daily basis," he says. "They keep labelling me as the enemy of progress in Uganda and Africa. Sometimes they call me a 'US-backed puppet' or a sell-out." |
| Despite receiving tweets like this one on a regular basis, Mr Seguya says he will "not be gagged or silenced" | Despite receiving tweets like this one on a regular basis, Mr Seguya says he will "not be gagged or silenced" |
| The account belonging to "fake Jamechia" was just one of dozens attacking, harassing, and at times threatening Mr Seguya. | The account belonging to "fake Jamechia" was just one of dozens attacking, harassing, and at times threatening Mr Seguya. |
| But, on closer inspection, the profiles all bore striking similarities to each other. | But, on closer inspection, the profiles all bore striking similarities to each other. |
| They all claimed to be Ugandan citizens - often women - whose accounts appeared to have the sole purpose of posting praise for the president and pushing back against critics. | They all claimed to be Ugandan citizens - often women - whose accounts appeared to have the sole purpose of posting praise for the president and pushing back against critics. |
| The Ugandan Media Centre, which handles public communications on behalf of the government, did not respond to our requests for comment. | The Ugandan Media Centre, which handles public communications on behalf of the government, did not respond to our requests for comment. |
| A sprawling network of fake accounts | A sprawling network of fake accounts |
| By analysing those accounts' behaviour, BBC Verify was able to map out a network of nearly 200 fake social media accounts operating on X and on Facebook (even though the latter has been blocked in Uganda since 2021). | By analysing those accounts' behaviour, BBC Verify was able to map out a network of nearly 200 fake social media accounts operating on X and on Facebook (even though the latter has been blocked in Uganda since 2021). |
| The vast majority of these accounts used stolen images as profile pictures - often social media photos of models, influencers, and actresses from across the world. But none of the usernames used by them appeared to be linked to real individuals in Uganda or Tanzania. | The vast majority of these accounts used stolen images as profile pictures - often social media photos of models, influencers, and actresses from across the world. But none of the usernames used by them appeared to be linked to real individuals in Uganda or Tanzania. |
| These accounts often posted the same content within minutes of each other. By looking at the dates when they were created, we also found that many had been set up on the very same day. | These accounts often posted the same content within minutes of each other. By looking at the dates when they were created, we also found that many had been set up on the very same day. |
| This suggests that, while they may look like separate accounts, they have been working together. | This suggests that, while they may look like separate accounts, they have been working together. |
| It is unclear how successful this network may have been in actually shifting people's views of the government, as very few of its posts earned large numbers of likes, comments, or shares. | It is unclear how successful this network may have been in actually shifting people's views of the government, as very few of its posts earned large numbers of likes, comments, or shares. |
| For all its sophistication, could this network be failing to fulfil its mission then? Not quite, experts say. | For all its sophistication, could this network be failing to fulfil its mission then? Not quite, experts say. |
| "[Their] goal can be to push the message out there - whether or not people engage with it is kind of irrelevant, as long as people have seen it," says Tessa Knight, a research associate for the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab who investigates disinformation. | "[Their] goal can be to push the message out there - whether or not people engage with it is kind of irrelevant, as long as people have seen it," says Tessa Knight, a research associate for the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab who investigates disinformation. |
| Who is running this network of accounts? | Who is running this network of accounts? |
| Contacted by the BBC, Meta removed most of the Facebook accounts we identified. | Contacted by the BBC, Meta removed most of the Facebook accounts we identified. |
| Meta believes that individuals linked to the Government Citizen Interaction Centre (GCIC) - a Ugandan government agency - may have been running several of the accounts it removed. | Meta believes that individuals linked to the Government Citizen Interaction Centre (GCIC) - a Ugandan government agency - may have been running several of the accounts it removed. |
| The company did not share the evidence it said it held to back this assertion. And, as a result, the BBC has not been able to independently verify it. | The company did not share the evidence it said it held to back this assertion. And, as a result, the BBC has not been able to independently verify it. |
| But, in a statement, the GCIC denied this allegation, saying that agency accounts "are not operating on Facebook". | But, in a statement, the GCIC denied this allegation, saying that agency accounts "are not operating on Facebook". |
| And yet, it is not the first time the agency has been accused of running what Meta describes as "influence operations": in 2021, Facebook's parent company took action against hundreds of accounts it said were linked to the GCIC. | And yet, it is not the first time the agency has been accused of running what Meta describes as "influence operations": in 2021, Facebook's parent company took action against hundreds of accounts it said were linked to the GCIC. |
| Uganda social media ban raises questions over regulation in Africa | Uganda social media ban raises questions over regulation in Africa |
| X did not reply to our requests for comment and the platform took no action against any of the accounts identified by the BBC's investigation. | X did not reply to our requests for comment and the platform took no action against any of the accounts identified by the BBC's investigation. |
| Asked whether it recognised any of the accounts on X, the GCIC said: "we recognise the accounts of our staff whose terms of reference include disseminating factual information about government programmes. We are only aware and responsible for accounts of our staff meant for work." | Asked whether it recognised any of the accounts on X, the GCIC said: "we recognise the accounts of our staff whose terms of reference include disseminating factual information about government programmes. We are only aware and responsible for accounts of our staff meant for work." |
| The GCIC did not respond to follow-up questions attempting to clarify whether the accounts identified were indeed run by state employees. | The GCIC did not respond to follow-up questions attempting to clarify whether the accounts identified were indeed run by state employees. |
| Mr Seguya says he is "not surprised" by the existence of this network, but he urges whoever is behind it to consider the human cost of their campaign against critics. | Mr Seguya says he is "not surprised" by the existence of this network, but he urges whoever is behind it to consider the human cost of their campaign against critics. |
| "They may not know the negative impacts they are creating on someone's mental health by sending out such threats to people like me and different activists. | "They may not know the negative impacts they are creating on someone's mental health by sending out such threats to people like me and different activists. |
| "Let them not silence dissent. Dissent is democracy." | "Let them not silence dissent. Dissent is democracy." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Social media | Social media |
| Propaganda | Propaganda |
| Fake News | |
| Uganda | Uganda |
| Social media campaign | Social media campaign |