A new report by NewsGuard has uncovered massive India-aligned influence operation using AI-generated content and fake social media accounts to promote pro-India propaganda and undermine Pakistan.
The investigation revealed a network of nearly 1,500 fake accounts on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), which had been operating undetected for three years.
The network’s coordinated efforts involved boosting the image of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration while criticizing Pakistan and its allies.
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NewsGuard could not precisely identify the individuals responsible for the network, but the accounts exhibited behaviour pointing to a link with the Indian military, including consistent promotion of pro-government and pro-army narratives.
The network, which first became active in September 2021, managed to avoid detection despite its size and prolonged activity, making it one of the most enduring influence operations attributed to India.
The 500 Facebook and 904 X accounts identified by NewsGuard often posted up to 10 identical messages per day, promoting pro-Indian government and military content. The accounts, which used fake names and AI-generated profile pictures, frequently shared material from pro-India outlets such as ANI News and Hindustan Times, as well as other platforms with ties to the Indian military.
Using artificial intelligence detection tools, NewsGuard found that many of the posts published by these accounts were likely generated by AI, allowing the network to rapidly produce and distribute vast amounts of content.
“NewsGuard found that the posts published by the network of fake accounts were, according to the tool, ‘highly likely’ generated by AI, which allows networks such as this one to rapidly produce and disseminate large amounts of content.
“NewsGuard’s finding follows several reports raising concerns about the increasing use of AI to supercharge state-sponsored ‘influence campaigns’ including ‘Spamouflage,’ a pro-China network that regularly posts divisive content about the U.S.
“The posts typically promote propaganda rather than provably false claims. However, the network exhibits all the hallmarks of “inauthentic behaviour,” a type of activity prohibited under the rules set by social media platforms X and Facebook for attempting to deceive users and manipulate public opinion,” part of the report published on September 4, 2024 read.
NewsGuard’s investigation revealed that many of the fake accounts were used to praise the Indian military, especially the Indian Army, through coordinated posts designed to glorify its activities and enhance its image.
One page in the network, JK News Network, which presents itself as a legitimate news outlet, repeatedly posted content that promoted the Indian Army in a highly favoruable light. Its posts, amplified by hundreds of fake accounts, showcased positive stories about the Indian army’s community engagement efforts, such as promoting women’s cricket and inaugurating a community radio station in Leh. These posts attracted significant interaction from fake accounts that praised the army’s efforts, thus enhancing their visibility.
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While NewsGuard could not definitely prove the Indian military’s involvement in the campaign, the close alignment of the network’s messaging with military interests, as well as the type of content it promoted, suggests a possible connection. Notably, the network used multiple accounts to boost pro-military narratives, with posts lauding the army’s work in fostering unity and social development.
The accounts also targeted Pakistan’s relationship with China, including criticisms of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion infrastructure project that has been a key component of Pakistan’s economic strategy.
In addition to its anti-Pakistan stance, the network also portrayed India’s governance of Kashmir in a positive light.
Besides its focus on Pakistan, the network also directed criticism at other countries seen as geopolitical adversaries of India, such as China, the Maldives, and Bangladesh. They frequently criticized China over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and its support for Pakistan’s treatment of minorities in Balochistan.
Nurudeen Akewushola is a fact-checker with FactCheckHub. He has authored several fact checks which have contributed to the fight against information disorder. You can reach him via [email protected] and @NurudeenAkewus1 via Twitter.
