Azerbaijan Foils Disinformation Campaign on Facebook, Exposing Coordinated Effort to Spread Provocative Content
Baku, Azerbaijan – A sophisticated disinformation campaign targeting Azerbaijan through Facebook has been successfully neutralized, according to the Azerbaijani Parliamentary Commission on Countering External Interference and Hybrid Threats. The campaign, active throughout August 2025, originated from a neighboring country and involved a network of newly created Facebook pages disseminating provocative and false information aimed at destabilizing the nation. The Commission identified several pages, including Caspian Xəbər, Caspian Times, İşıq Media, Pro Eminent Guild, Next Azerbaijan, and Caliber.Az, all collaborating in a coordinated manner to spread the disinformation.
The Commission’s investigation revealed a centralized command structure behind the campaign, suggesting a deliberate and organized attempt to manipulate the Azerbaijani information landscape. This points towards a calculated effort to exploit social media platforms to sow discord and potentially influence public opinion within Azerbaijan. The nature of the disinformation and its coordinated distribution raised concerns about external interference in Azerbaijani affairs, aimed at achieving undisclosed geopolitical objectives detrimental to the nation’s stability and security.
Swift action by Azerbaijani authorities, in collaboration with Meta, Facebook’s parent company, resulted in the removal of all identified anti-Azerbaijani pages. This proactive approach highlights Azerbaijan’s commitment to safeguarding its information space and countering malicious online activities that threaten its national interests. The Commission emphasized the crucial role of cooperation between government agencies and social media platforms in addressing the increasing threat of online disinformation campaigns.
This recent incident underscores the growing challenge posed by disinformation operations in the digital age. State-sponsored actors and other malicious entities increasingly utilize social media platforms to spread propaganda, manipulate public narratives, and interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign nations. The coordinated nature of this campaign against Azerbaijan demonstrates the sophistication of these operations, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance and proactive measures to counter them effectively. The use of seemingly innocuous page names further highlights the insidious nature of these campaigns, designed to blend in with legitimate online content and subtly influence unsuspecting users.
The successful thwarting of this disinformation campaign serves as a testament to Azerbaijan’s growing capabilities in identifying and neutralizing online threats. The collaborative approach between government bodies and international tech companies underscores the importance of global partnerships in combating disinformation. The incident also serves as a valuable case study in the evolving landscape of information warfare, highlighting the need for continuous adaptation and improvement in defence mechanisms against online manipulation.
Azerbaijan’s proactive approach in addressing this disinformation campaign sends a clear message of its commitment to protecting its information sovereignty. By swiftly addressing the malicious activity, the government aimed to prevent the spread of false narratives and safeguard its citizens from manipulation. The ongoing cooperation with social media platforms suggests a long-term commitment to combating online threats and preserving the integrity of its online sphere. The incident underscores the importance of international cooperation and technological advancement in the ongoing fight against disinformation and manipulation in the digital age.