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Pro-BJP Network Spent Crores on Meta Ads
Browser View | March 9, 2024 | Subscribe
Hello,
Social media is a polarising space and more so during election time. A Facebook page called Ulta Chashma and its network of pages has spent over two crore rupees promoting over a thousand ads (with an extra dose of misinformation and hate) on Meta-owned platforms since November 2023. Read on!
📣 Empowering the Truth Global Summit
It's the second week of ICFJ’s Empowering the Truth Global Summit! Listen to Sudipto Mondal from The News Minute talk about navigating disinformation while amplifying the voices of the underrepresented. Register for the free virtual session on 14 March at 5 pm IST.
Shadow Network Of Pro-BJP Pages Spend Over ₹2 Cr On Meta Ads Since November
🔖 What does this prolific network entail?
The Facebook page Ulta Chashma includes a network of six other pages and corresponding Instagram accounts including two miscellaneous political satire pages named MemeXpress and Political X-ray.
Who is the network targeting?
The four pages targeting opposition ruled states are Sonar Bangla aimed at the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, Tamilakam aimed at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ruled Tamil Nadu, Kannada Sangamam aimed at Congress-ruled Karnataka and Malabar Central targeting the Left Democratic Front in Kerala.
What is the network posting on Meta?
Misinformation targeting the farmers' protest,
Hate speech targeting Muslims
Running surrogate ads targeting opposition leaders.
Oh but wait, are all the guidelines of Meta’s Ad Library being followed? If not, then how are these pages hiding in plain sight? Find out in Karen Rebelo’s investigation.
How A TikTok Star Became A Lavish Influencer For BJP
🔖 June 2020 was an unforgettable month for Veer Sharma, an Indore-based social media influencer. When the Indian government banned the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, the 29-year-old lost his 7 million followers overnight.
The ban, he thought, would end his career. But then politicians came looking for him. Now he is an influencer for the BJP. Find out more in Kashif Kakvi’s story.
👉 This story is part of our new series #ViralForVotes where we will be tracking how the government is roping in influencers for this election.
🔖 Will artificial intelligence (AI) impact the scale of misinformation this election? BOOM’s Karen Rebelo spoke about it at the SFLC event ‘Ballots and Bots’ held in New Delhi on Thursday.
Spanish Tourist Gang-Raped In Jharkhand: What Do We Know So Far?
🔖 A Spanish woman touring with her husband was reportedly sexually assaulted by a group of men, in Jharkhand's Dumka district last week. The incident occurred in Kurumahat village, situated approximately 42 km from Dumka district headquarters, at a deserted location under Hansdiha police station. The assailants targeted the woman, who was sleeping in a makeshift tent with her husband.
Till now all seven accused have been identified, out of which four have been arrested. Read Hera Rizwan’s explainer to know more details.
New Criminal Reform Laws Will Bring "Utter Chaos": Experts
🔖 The government’s decision to implement the three new criminal laws from 1 July onwards has been met with skepticism as experts believe they not only violate the fundamental rights to one’s liberty and free speech but will incite “utter chaos”.
Why is the introduction of the three criminal reform laws different from any other new law? And what impact will it have on the people, the judicial system? BOOM’s Ritika Jain spoke to experts who shed light on the issues above.
🚫 Fake News You Almost Fell For
🔍 An old video of a group of people attacking journalists in a car resurfaced on social media falsely claiming that it showed a recent attack on a female journalist, in an attempt to obstruct her from reporting in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali. 🔗 Srijit Das ↗️ debunked the claim.
🔍 Did Rahul Gandhi say that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unites the country and the Congress divides it? Find out in 🔗 Hazel Gandhi’s ↗️ fact-check.
🔍 A graphic went viral claiming that a survey by ABP news showed a landslide victory for the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) in the upcoming Andhra Pradesh assembly election. Read 🔗 Anmol Alphonso’s ↗️ fact-check.
🅱️ Recommends
📖 This week's recommendation is: The Hunt for ClothOff: The Deepfake Porn App
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