Uncovering a Fake Bot Network on West Papua Propaganda

Marco267 is identified as a fake account involved in a network promoting propaganda.

This network operates from a marketing firm in Indonesia, using hundreds of similar accounts.

The video aims to reveal the content shared by these accounts and the investigative methods used.

West Papua, once a Dutch colony, declared independence in 1961 but was annexed by Indonesia in 1969 amid claims of an illegitimate vote.

The region has experienced unrest and a strong independence movement, facing crackdowns from Indonesian authorities including media blackouts.

Social media has emerged as a critical space for shaping the narrative, where misinformation can thrive.

Marco267’s posts contain misleading hashtags aimed at hijacking legitimate discussions around West Papua's issues.

He shares content suggesting Indonesia hides significant information about West Papua.

The account and others display consistent posting patterns indicative of automation or programming scripts.

Using reverse image search exposed Marco267’s profile picture found on multiple unrelated sites.

Analysis of friend accounts shows they post identical content, indicating they are likely bots or part of the same network.

The marketing firm Insight ID appears to be behind the creation of many pro-Indonesian websites and accounts.

Following the publication of findings, social media platforms acted against the network allowing users to report fake activity.

Twitter removed 795 accounts connected to the misinformation campaign.

Despite initial removals, attempts to manipulate narratives persisted through new tactics and languages.

The analysis highlights how misinformation operations remain adaptive and persistent even after being exposed.

Account patterns suggest the use of AI-generated images for profile pictures to create realistic profiles.

The importance of continued investigation into such networks to protect truthful narratives, especially in conflict regions.