Social Media Monitoring

Over the recent period, ISFED has investigated various types of technics designed for spreading disinformation and propaganda in social media. One of the mentioned tactics includes information-boosting by pro-government and false media outlets, based on  backstage sort of information firstly shared as Facebook posts by certain figures positioned as experts. Some media platforms never recheck facts before publishing articles. Along with that, involved agencies and experts often remain unchanged. These tendencies make us suppose that there is a purposive spread of disinformation. Moreover, this process can clearly be linked with an organized scheme, which can itself include other independent actors, that do not work this way on purpose.

The scheme for the spread of disinformation can be structured as follows: Certain people being loyal to the government, positioned as experts, tend to spread “exclusive backstage” information on their private Facebook pages. Pro-government media outlets and anonymous Facebook actors widely share facts without investigating its reliability. Furthermore, the falsehood of their posts has been confirmed several times in the past, by fact-checker organizations.

The above-mentioned scheme was used to spread misleading information on the 15^th of March, that President Salome Zourabichvili together with the presidents of Poland and Hungary, was planning a visit to Kyiv and make a dangerous statement for Georgia. The information was firstly posted on Levan Nikoleishvili’s Facebook page and afterward, it was disseminated by the following media platforms: Imedinews.ge, Kvira.ge, Lid.ge, Npg.ge, Frontnews.ge, Tiflisnews.ge, Reportiori.ge, Rustavi2.ge, Tvalsazrisi.ge, Resonancedaily.com, Exclusivetv.ge, For.ge. This information has also been shared as a sponsored post on a false media platform – “Bog News” 1. Later, Salome Zourabichvili denied the above information in a post published on the official website. It is worth noting that, unlike Nikoleishvili’s post, president Zourabichvili’s this Facebook status has not been shared by most of the above-mentioned platforms. (Only Rustavi2.ge, Imedinews.ge, Exclusivetv.ge offered readers the correct facts.)

Screen N1 and Screen N2:  Based on my information, Zurabishvili was planning to visit Kyiv with the presidents of Poland and Hungary. As the commander in chief of Georgia, she was planning to make a statement, which would make Georgia the main target again. Of course, the risk of getting involved in war was maximized. “Georgian Dream” insured the risk and told her that she is only commander in chief symbolically and ceremonial commander in chief should stay in the country during this kind of situation.  I have a few questions as well, why does “United National Movement” know this story (from which this information is leaked) and who organizes that kind of issues?

 

It is also noteworthy that, in the past, the same Levan Nikoleishvili has been a source of disinformation for pro-government agencies and discrediting Facebook pages for a number of times.  Along with him, other pro-government experts have been involved in spreading disinformation as well. For instance, Tamta Megrelishvili, Edisher Gvenetadze, Zaal anjaparidze and Zurab Kadagidze.

 

Examples of disinformation spread by “Experts”

• Giorgi Gakharia is about to arrange a meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili on the 24th of December. Afterward, he is going to start a hunger strike (23 December 2021).

The first source of information about Gakharia’s hunger strike was Levan Nikoleishvili. Later, the mentioned fact has been shared by the following agencies: Imedinews.ge, Lid.ge, For. ge, Reportiori.ge and Akhalitaoba.ge. This piece of information turned out to be a complete rumor – Giorgi Gakharia neither met Saakashvili, nor began a hunger strike.

 

Screen N3 and Screen N4:  According to my information, tomorrow, Gakharia will meet Misha Saakashvili and start hunger strike.

• Mikheil Saakashvili underwent a gastric resection before entering Georgia. Therefore, he is not starving on purpose, but he is unable to eat (5 November 2021)

Information about Saakashvili’s gastric resection, has been become an agenda for several pro-government experts. Firstly, this misinformation was spread on Tamta Megrelishvili’s Facebook profile (Facebook post no longer exists). Later, Zaal Anjaparidze, Edisher Gvenetadze, Zurab Kadagidze and Levan Nikoleishvili responded to the above-mentioned information through Saakashvili's discrediting Facebook posts. The false fact about a gastric resection, has been shared by the following media outlets: Guardian.ge, Pia.ge, Akhalitaoba.ge, Alia.ge, Kvira.ge, Spnews.io, Tia.ge, Imedinews.ge, Primetime.ge, For.ge, Lid.ge, Gmtv.ge, Tiflisnews.ge, Mpn.ge, Reportiori.ge, Geotimes.com.ge, Fortuna.ge, Infopostalioni.com. According to the myth detector, the aforementioned information is a complete lie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Screen N5:  Tamta Megrelishvili: Saakashvili had done gastric resection before his arrival in Georgia. He is not on hunger strike, he just can’t eat.

 

• One day before elections, at 9pm, Nika Melia is going to announce his withdrawal from the upcoming Elections.

During the pre-election period, Levan Nikoleishvili spread false information about Nika Melia's willingness to withdraw his candidacy. Supposedly, outspreading false information one day before the Municipal elections was designed to disorient voters. In no time, this information was shared by the following media platforms: Kvira.ge, Hotnews.ge, Frontnews.ge, Imedinews.ge, Pia.ge, Infopostalioni.com, Mpn.ge, Spnews.io, postv.media, Pia.ge, Ipress.ge, For.ge.  

Screen N6 and Screen N7:  I have an information, that because of Saakashvili’s circus clowning, at 9 PM Nikanor Melia will make a statement about withdrawing his candidacy.

 

Pro-government Agencies are trying to avoid their responsibilities by referring to first sources-the figures positioned as experts. Nevertheless, it is crucial to remember, that media outlets are obliged to deliver only authentic and confirmed facts. A Facebook status cannot be perceived as a credible source, even if an author claims its authenticity.

As can be seen from the above examples, most disinformation media outlets not only do not offer the reader verification of the information, but also do not correct it after the disinformation is confirmed. Having monitored these tendencies, it can be supposed that this process is an integral part of well-structured, coordinated behavior. It is the agreed duty of a defined circle of experts to provide the desired disinformation or propaganda messages to government agencies.