The war in Ukraine is not just taking place on the ground. Russia is also using all guerrilla tactics online to spread mass disinformation. Twitter and Facebook encourage their users to protect themselves from attacks by the Russian aggressor.
A few hours after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, social networks asked their users in the country to take protective measures against the manipulations orchestrated by Moscow. Russia has been known to spread false information for years for its own benefit, and the war in Ukraine is an opportunity for the country to multiply disinformation through all possible channels.
The disinformation war
Twitter and Facebook quickly took the lead, giving advice to Ukrainian internet users and those on the spot. Twitter thus recommends creating a strong password and setting up a second identification factor to avoid account hacking. It is also possible to deactivate a Twitter account: the name, profile and tweets will not be visible unless you reactivate the account within 30 days.
Similarly, Twitter users can hide their location. Facebook offers similar protection features, with a tool that locks an account in one click. A system that has been put in place in other countries during dangerous situations, such as in Afghanistan. Both companies also offer guides and how-tos for anyone living in Ukraine to secure their files and devices.
Apart from user protection, both platforms must also fight against proliferating misinformation. According to Cyabra, negative content related to Ukraine has exploded by 11,000% since February 14: 56% of this content comes from “inauthentic” profiles, such as bots or fake accounts.
