Researchers say Israeli contractor BlackCore trained Angolan government officials to carry out covert online influence operations using fake social media personas and coordinated pro-government content. Citizen Lab says the 14-week program included Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok operations, creation of a fictitious media outlet called Agita News, paid advertising, and publication of dozens of influence posts designed to shape public opinion.
Why it matters: This is a real-world influence operation tied to a government and a commercial contractor, which matters to the public, platforms, and election and information-integrity defenders. It suggests coordinated deception infrastructure may have been operational in Angola and potentially reused elsewhere, so researchers and platforms should watch for linked personas, pages, and ad activity.
2026.09.17
100% relevant
This article establishes a distinct reported event: BlackCore's alleged training and operational support for Angolan government influence activity, centered on fake personas, Agita News infrastructure, and coordinated social media campaigns.
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