Africa Daily Focus on Africa: Hundreds of stolen social media identities used to spread propaganda
Oct 23, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Mungai Ngige, a journalist from the BBC Global Disinformation Unit, reveals the shocking findings of identity theft among Somali influencers used for political propaganda. Oluwale Ojewale highlights Chad's recent constitutional changes, questioning their impact on democracy and autocracy in the region. Meanwhile, Father Anthony Kiplagat explains the Kenyan Catholic Church's introduction of a new designated altar wine, aimed at restoring sanctity after misuse of the previous brand. A compelling blend of current affairs and cultural insights!
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Platform Visibility Shaped Investigation
- The operation was most visible on X because investigative tools can access its API and collect posting patterns and interactions.
- TikTok and Facebook showed traces but were harder to investigate due to limited tooling or video formats.
Influencer Aesthetics Target Youth
- The accounts used influencer-style lifestyle posts and young female images to appeal to millennials and Gen Z, the dominant social-media demographic.
- That targeting amplifies reach because under-35s make up most users and are more likely to engage with influencer content.
Affected Women Were Unaware
- BBC contacted six women whose images had been stolen, and none knew their photos were being used for political posts.
- One mother said her underage daughter had no social accounts yet appeared in multiple fake profiles.