Twitter removes labels from state-controlled media, helping propaganda

The move comes the same week that Russia and China were revealed to be operating armies of fake profiles

Washington Post: Joseph Menn

SAN FRANCISCO — Twitter has removed labels designating global media accounts as government-controlled or funded, allowing propaganda from China, Russia and other countries to be more widely seen and believed. The action came late Thursday, while many Twitter followers were distracted by the removal of hundreds of thousands of legacy blue check marks for verified public figures, and in the same week that Russia and China were revealed to have been operating armies of fake profiles to sway U.S. debate.

“It’s clear that state actors are continuing to invest in influence operations,” said Lisa Kaplan, chief executive of Alethea Group, which tracks the spread of false narratives. “Removing the state media labels, these outlets are now able to operate without having users notice that the information is likely biased.”

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