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Spy agency Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) is warning the public that social media platforms are making it easier for foreign governments to interfere in other countries’ domestic affairs through spreading disinformation.
The agency said the social media platforms themselves don’t appear to be the threat. However, their design leaves them vulnerable to abuse by foreign actors.
“Many of the deliberate design features of the platforms, such as recommender algorithms that prioritise content or make personalised content suggestions, or those that allow for anonymity and identity shielding, or have limited content moderation capabilities, can exacerbate the risk of the platform or service being used to conduct foreign interference,” ASIO said in its submission to the Senate Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media.
The committee is expected to call the likes of Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, WeChat and others to appear and answer questions regarding the possibility of their platforms being used for espionage.
ASIO said these platforms were designed to drive greater engagement and to drive more revenue through advertisement. Unfortunately, this also leads to promoting content based on their capacity to incite engagement, and not necessarily on being factual or balanced.
With many social media platforms not having robust identity verification procedures, which makes them a breeding ground of disinformation spread by a single user controlling several accounts.
“This inauthentic use can then be used to conduct online foreign interference activities in an unmoderated way,” ASIO said.
Meanwhile, ASIO director-general Mike Burgess warned individuals trying to promote themselves as security professionals on social media, especially those in the intelligence community, of their reckless behaviour.
“I appreciate people want to sell themselves to prospective employers, and may need to mention they have a security clearance, but doing it on a professional networking site is reckless. These people may as well add ‘high-value target’ to their profiles,” he said.
“Security clearances are not titles or rewards – they come with serious ongoing responsibilities. I don’t know what’s more disappointing… that people who presumably understand the threat don’t seem to care about it… or that individuals trying to promote themselves as security professionals are so unprofessional about security.”
Paulo Rizal is a content producer for Comms Room. He writes content around popular media, journalism, social media, and more.
