in many cases, including isd's case studies, there isn't vast amounts of money being made from inauthentic facebook groups and conspiracy sites. but to many of the operators based in countries with low per capita income relative to the us, making a few hundred dollars a month from pushing conspiratorial content means significant gain. one of the more lucrative sites linked to vietnam that isd analyzed brought in around $1800 each month through advertising alone â about 10 times the monthly per capita income in the country. platforms like facebook have cracked down on such "inauthentic activity" since 2016, but the global misinformation industry remains. in recent years, these for-profit disinformation networks have seized on the popularity of conspiracy movements and far-right groups online, creating content aimed at anti-vaccine protesters and qanon followers.
in many cases, including isd's case studies, there isn't vast amounts of money being made from inauthentic facebook groups and conspiracy sites. but to many of the operators based in countries with low per capita income relative to the us, making a few hundred dollars a month from pushing conspiratorial content means significant gain. one of the more lucrative sites linked to vietnam that isd analyzed brought in around $1800 each month through advertising alone â about 10 times the monthly per capita income in the country. platforms like facebook have cracked down on such "inauthentic activity" since 2016, but the global misinformation industry remains. in recent years, these for-profit disinformation networks have seized on the popularity of conspiracy movements and far-right groups online, creating content aimed at anti-vaccine protesters and qanon followers.