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Here's how much it costs to buy 'fake news' online

The 'public opinion cycle' can be manipulated if you've got enough money

13 Jun 2017
Getty Images / Sion Touhig / Staff

Fake news has been popularised since the election of Donald Trump. Since then, at least in his eyes, the phenomena has grown. "Fake News is at an all-time high," Trump tweeted. It's likely that disagreeable news stories from established publications will always exist but the ability to create fake news can be purchased.

A new 77-page report from security firm Trend Micro claims the "decision-making process," including elections, can be manipulated for around $400,000 (£314,000).

"Fake news is taking more mainstream headlines in impacting end user views," Bharat Mistry, a principal security strategist at Trend Micro, tells WIRED. "It's a means to an objective. If you want to dispel anything, or get something out there, or discredit anything it looks like fake news is the fastest vehicle to do that".

He says that within the last few years the "grunt work" of creating fake news content, social media influence and the spreading a message has been removed. In fact, Trend Micro says the economics of fake news means a fake 'celebrity' social media account can be created for $2,600 (£2,044); a journalist can be discredited for $55,000 (£43,000); and a 12-month political campaign to change people's opinions can be run for $400,000 (£314,000).

Trend Micro says using a model called the "public opinion cycle" it is possible to manipulate how people think. This structure involves reconnaissance for gathering information, preparing material to be spread, how it is delivered to people and then exploiting and sustaining the message.

"Combining the internet and applying public opinion manipulation theory has proven to be remarkably effective," the security firm says in its report. "In the past... it was difficult, if not impossible, for external actors to influence an election.

"They [political parties] need to understand that parties outside of the political sphere have their own agenda and can use cyber propaganda and misinformation to influence campaigns and elections as well; this is something that political parties need to understand and defend against, if needed."

Trend Micro

Mistry explains it is possible to buy "fake news as a service" and says "the prices seem to be reasonable" but there are regional differences. These prices differentiate based on social cultures and the amount of money each region has: Chinese fake news producers usually only work within the Chinese market, the report says.

Trend Micro continues to say that governments and individuals are only just "waking up to how serious" manipulation of views can be. "Governments are starting to recognise that fake news is something that must be actively fought," the report says. For instance, in Germany government ministers have been creating laws that could see tech giants fined if they don't remove fake posts from their platforms.

The German proposals would see the likes of Facebook, Twitter, and Google, fined up to €50 million (£44m) if they don't remove posts 24 hours after they have been reported. The response to fake news from major technology companies has been to form partnerships with fact checking organisations to help identify and inform the public about false stories.

Facebook has produced a 10 point guide to spotting fake news, which it has promoted at the top of news feeds. These include checking sources, being skeptical of headlines and being wary of dates on stories.