capital of the West African nation of Burkina Faso, they had an urgent message for the country’s embattled ruler.
business of disinformation-for-hire. Meta, the social media company that operates Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, says that since 2017 it has detected more than 200 clandestine influence operations, many of them mercenary campaigns, in 68Information for this story was gathered over two years of interviews with key participants, along with a review of extensive documentary material, including client contracts and screenshots, that supported Percepto’s account.
He became an active member of dozens of pro-Russian Telegram and WhatsApp groups. He learned how pro-Russian demonstrations were being organized across the country — real-world rallies the Kaboré government saw as a threat. The answer: highly-tailored deception. Percepto’s clients pay the company millions to operate a handful of boutique personas — “deep avatars” with extensive backstories, like the budding activist in Burkina Faso.
Then the administrator shared copies of paperwork that the association had filed in several other countries and indicated that he could help draw up registration documents.“Hello brother. I hope you are well?” he said. “You have not responded to me regarding what I’ve asked of you. If you’re fearful of fighting this fight, we are not going to force you.”But then Percepto’s creation again went dark.
Burstien says the Kaboré government heeded his advice. Within days, the official had found a colleague who would play the avatar in a real-world meeting with the Russians. Percepto met with the operative, who they say bore resemblance to their online creation, and they devised a plan for a meeting at a local bakery.. During the fighting that ended Kaboré’s rule, rebel soldiers stood on a seized United Nations vehicle and waved a Russian flag.