What is a troll farm?

Trolls have been around for as long as the internet, but in recent years they've been getting professionalised. Indeed, companies have actually been set up with the specific aim of creating and spreading fake news online. Such organisations are known as troll farms or troll factories, and Russia has been home to some of the most prominent. Based in the city of St Petersburg, its Internet Research Agency is perhaps the most well-known and influential in the world. More worrying still, these keyboard armies often operate at the behest of governments, for propaganda purposes. Needless to say, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, troll farms have been highly active in spreading disinformation. 

When did troll farms first appear? How did we find out about the Internet Research Agency's actions? How do troll farms operate? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions!

To listen to the last episodes, you can click here:

What is the perineum?

Who is Rosalia?

What is deepfake democracy?

A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance.

In partnership with upday UK.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices