What happened

A Sri Lankan influencer, Geeth Sooriyapura, is linked to a coordinated network of 128 Facebook pages and groups focused on anti-migrant and anti-Muslim content aimed at British users, according to a joint investigation by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The network is estimated to have around 1.6 million followers across its pages.

Much of the content is AI-generated imagery and video (e.g., fake mass protests, deep-fake style clips), used to amplify divisive narratives. Examples include: a video of a naval ship hitting dinghies full of asylum seekers (AI-generated), and false claims that London council housing is reserved for Muslims.

Sooriyapura runs an “online academy” teaching others how to build similar Facebook pages, monetise them via Meta’s tools (in-stream ads, subscriptions, performance bonuses), and use generative AI, including ChatGPT, to generate ideas and content, and scale content fast. 

He claims to have earned USD 300,000 from the operation.

Some of the pages push anti-Labour party messaging (e.g., targeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer), Islamophobic conspiracy theories (e.g., “replacement” narratives), and portray migrants as invaders.

Meta has removed some of these pages for “inauthentic behavior.” 

Why it happened

Commercial motivation: Sooriyapura's operation is profit-driven, not overtly ideological. He openly instructs students to monetise engagement by tapping into polarising political themes.

AI ease of use and scalability: Generative AI tools are used to create emotionally provocative content fast, reducing barriers to entry and increasing the volume of output.

Targeting vulnerabilities: The network explicitly targets demographic groups seen as “triggerable". For instance, Sooriyapura says he focuses on older UK audiences because of their negative feelings on immigration.

Platform enforcement gaps: Meta’s content moderation, including the labellig of AI content, especially around AI-generated content and disinformation, is weak and inconsistent, allowing these kinds of pages to exist and grow.

Lack of regulation/accountability: The case exposes how non-state commercial actors can exploit algorithmic platforms for disinformation with limited oversight, especially when the motive is financial rather than geopolitical.