Influence-for-hire explained

Influence-for-hire or collective influence, refers to the economy that has emerged around buying and selling influence on social media platforms.

Overview

Companies that engage in the influence-for-hire industry range from content farms to high end public relations agencies. Traditionally influence operations have largely been confined to public sector actors like intelligence agencies, in the influence-for-hire industry the groups conduction the operations are private with commerce being their primary consideration.[1] However many of the clients in the influence-for-hire industry are countries or countries acting through proxies.[2] They are often located in countries with less expensive digital labor.[3]

History

In May 2021, Facebook took a Ukrainian influence-for-hire network offline. Facebook attributed the network to organizations and consultants linked to Ukrainian politicians including Andriy Derkach.[4] [5]

During the COVID-19 pandemic state sponsored misinformation was spread through influence-for-hire networks.[6]

In August 2021, a report published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute implicated the Chinese government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party in campaigns of online manipulation conducted against Australia and Taiwan using influence-for-hire.[7] [8] [9] [10]

Notes and References

  1. Loudermilk . E. Louise . O’Brien . Joseph J. . Goodrick . Scott L. . Linn . Rodman R. . Skowronski . Nicholas S. . Hiers . J. Kevin . 2022-06-10 . Vegetation's influence on fire behavior goes beyond just being fuel . Fire Ecology . 18 . 1 . 9 . 10.1186/s42408-022-00132-9 . 1933-9747. free .
  2. Web site: Wallace . Jacob . Boggle . Ariel . Zhang . Albert . Mansour . Hillary . Influence for hire. The Asia-Pacific's online shadow economy . www.aspi.org.au . ASPI . 14 August 2021.
  3. Web site: KIPAROIDZE . MARIAM . 'Influence for hire' networks are manipulating online discussions throughout the Asia Pacific region . www.codastory.com . August 13, 2021 . Coda Story . 14 August 2021.
  4. Web site: Culliford . Elizabeth . Facebook Removes Ukraine Political 'Influence-For-Hire' Network . www.usnews.com . US News . 14 August 2021.
  5. Web site: Somerville . Hannah . Ukrainian MP blasts 'hysterical' Facebook after influence network busted . www.euronews.com . May 13, 2021 . Euro News . 14 August 2021.
  6. Web site: Mansour . Hillary . Nkwanyana . Khwezi . Page . Matthew . The threat spectrum . www.aspistrategist.org.au . July 30, 2021 . ASPI . 14 August 2021.
  7. Web site: Gibson . Liam . CCP outsourcing propaganda campaigns to content farms in Taiwan and Australia: Think tank . www.taiwannews.com.tw . August 10, 2021 . Taiwan News . 14 August 2021.
  8. Web site: Galloway . Anthony . Growing online 'influence-for-hire' economy opens door for foreign interference: report . www.smh.com.au . August 9, 2021 . Sydney Morning Herald . 14 August 2021.
  9. Web site: Barbaschow . Asha . ASPI suggests government work with platforms to fight disinformation for hire . . ZDNet . 14 August 2021.
  10. Web site: Rae . Marion . China hides behind hackers for hire: study . thewest.com.au . August 10, 2021 . The West Australian . 14 August 2021.

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