Types of Fake Accounts Used by Cyber Troops

Social media has become a channel for governments and politicians to conduct propaganda to achieve their political goals. The use of propaganda serves to shape public opinion through social media. Those behind these accounts are referred to as government cyber troops or political actors manipulating public opinion.

The wide and extensive accessibility of social media technology is capable of swaying the opinions of its users. This is what governments and politicians utilize to launch their propaganda. Typically, cyber troops use fake accounts to spread propaganda, namely bots, humans, and cyborgs. Bots are designed to mimic human online behavior. Human accounts are not automated but are engaged in conversations through comments and posts. Cyborg accounts are a combination of automation and human curation.

Oxford University conducted research in 70 countries, including Indonesia. The results showed that 87% of these countries conducted propaganda on social media using human accounts. Bot accounts were used in 80% of countries. Only 11% used cyborg accounts, and 7% used hacked or stolen accounts.

In Indonesia, cyber troops manipulate social media using bot and human accounts. Meanwhile, in other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Germany, cyber troops use bot, human, and cyborg accounts.