[Tokyo, 10th, Reuters] — As concerns grow over energy supply disruptions due to a potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, signs are emerging of information operations by foreign actors aimed at influencing Japanese public opinion. It has been revealed that in March, social media accounts suspected of ties to the Russian government spread false information regarding crude oil procurement. The findings come from an investigation by Professor Takamichi Saito of Meiji University and others.
Saito, who also heads the university’s Cyber Security Research Institute, told Reuters that “there is a possibility that they attempted to exploit social anxiety to drive a wedge between Japan and the United States.” He added, “In information warfare, China and Russia tend to act in a complementary manner, and we also confirmed the involvement of groups of accounts suspected of links to the Chinese government in amplifying these posts.” The following is a Q&A summary:
— What is the outline of this information operation targeting Japan?
It began with a post on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed on March 8. An account suspected of ties to the Russian government posted in English that “a major Japanese oil company has resumed oil imports from Russia.” Of course, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Japan has in principle halted imports of Russian crude oil. The companies named in the post denied the claims.
However, amid rising concerns about energy supply due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the information carried a certain degree of plausibility for its audience. Rather than simply posting falsehoods, it was crafted to spread more easily by tying it to existing social anxiety.
Russia’s information operations had long been associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Group, but he died in a plane crash in 2023 believed to be an assassination. After a temporary slowdown, such operations now appear to be becoming active again.
— How did the information spread on social media?
Within two days of the initial post, multiple influencers known for pro-Russian messaging spread it through translations and quotes. It then rapidly spread in the Japanese-language sphere, surpassing a total of 2 million views. Meanwhile, its spread in English-speaking regions was limited, suggesting the operation specifically targeted Japan. Posts originating from abroad can sometimes appear more credible or stand out more in Japanese-language spaces, and in fact, information operations suspected to involve Russia often begin with English-language posts.
by liatris4405