Disinformation efforts now used in 70 countries, say researchers

Organised efforts to manipulate social media and public opinion are being carried out in at least 70 countries by government agencies and political parties, researchers said Thursday.
 
A report by the Oxford Internet Institute found manipulation efforts have doubled over the past two years and are being used by both democratic and authoritarian governments. The report identified the countries as China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
 
The study found Facebook remains “the platform of choice” for social media manipulation, with evidence seen in 56 nations. The researchers said “sophisticated state actors” from at least seven