IPOH: PKR leaders and members need to be cautious when using bots to increase social media reactions, says Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli.
The Pandan MP said his data analysts combed social media and found bots, some registered in Vietnam, used on posts related to ministries and governmental agencies.
A bot in the social media context is an autonomous computer program that operates as an agent on platforms, interacting with other users and simulating human activity.
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"I have a team that checks everything (on social media).
"We found bots being used to increase the number of likes," he said in his speech during the Jelajah Hiruk roadshow at Taman Cempaka here on Sunday (May 18).
"If (someone) wants to use bots, don't use them to post about Nurul Izzah Anwar, or people will talk about it and it becomes a laughing stock.
"People would say we have a new party branch in Vietnam.
"I've also seen some of my (social media) posts getting likes from people in Vietnam, not because they want to help me but also to say that I am using bots," he added.
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Rafizi, the incumbent party deputy president, is defending his seat against Nurul Izzah in the upcoming party polls this weekend.
The Economy Minister also said using bots was similar to the communications tactics used by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"Back then, there were (reactions) from Pakistan and India," he said, calling on the party to be careful when recruiting members.
"A lot of them used to work for Najib, which is why they are using the same strategy," he added.
