Burkina Faso: Fight against disinformation, vigilance and responsibility of Internet users in the face of fake news
Recently, the Central Brigade for Combating Cybercrime (BCLCC), through its technological monitoring and technical assistance service, exposed a large-scale disinformation campaign targeting public opinion in Burkina Faso. Malicious individuals are using publicly available digital tools to create and spread fake content, mimicking posts from official profiles or pages, whether they belong to individuals or institutional entities.
The perpetrators of these manipulations first collect information on the targeted profiles or pages. Using this data, they generate posts that replicate the name, profile picture, or even the logo of the page in question. These publications are designed to serve malicious purposes. Furthermore, the tools used by these cybercriminals can artificially simulate online interactions, such as “likes”, comments, or shares, creating the illusion that the content is genuine and widely supported by the public.
Once these fake posts are created, they are massively distributed through WhatsApp groups and Facebook profiles and pages, often using avatars specifically created for this purpose. This allows disinformers to make their messages appear more credible and spread them quickly.
In response to this situation, the BCLCC strongly advises internet users to exercise caution. It is essential to verify information by referring to the official pages of institutions or public figures before believing or sharing any post. The BCLCC also urges users not to spread misleading content to help curb its circulation. Finally, any suspicious content should be reported immediately to the relevant platform or through the BCLCC’s reporting channels.
The Central Brigade remains committed to fighting disinformation in all its forms and encourages internet users to adopt a vigilant and responsible attitude toward the fake news proliferating on social media.
