NAIROBI, Kenya, May 27-Twitter has ramped up their crackdown on Kenyan Twitter accounts manipulating their platform ahead of the August Kenyan polls.
Twitter has been permanently suspending thousands of accounts in its ongoing effort to fight the spread of disinformation and political discord on its platform. Accounts trying to sway public opinion through manipulation are being brought down.
Twitter defines platform manipulation as a large-scale aggressive or deceptive activity that misleads or disrupts people’s social media activity.
Tech companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google have been combating disinformation campaigns for a few years in response to criticism in the wake of reports that foreign governments exploit their platforms for their own agendas.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, created a cross-functional team dedicated to the polls. The team includes Kenyans and people who have spent significant time in the East African nation as the local context is important.
Meta Public Policy Director for East Africa and Horn of Africa Mercy Ndegwa told media that the team also includes individuals with global expertise in topics like misinformation, hate speech, elections, and disinformation.
On April 27, 2022, Meta held a roundtable at a City Hotel to talk about various matters including election manipulation.
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