A China-based operation sought to sway the US midterms – but failed because the propaganda workers took long lunches and worked 9 to 5. Meta shut it down anyway.

Meta has shut two China and Russia-run influence networks. Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters Meta took down a China-based network which sought to influence the US midterms. It was the first Chinese network Meta shut, which targeted US domestic politics before the midterms. The propaganda operation was largely ineffective, as it mostly posted when Americans were sleeping. Meta on Tuesday said it took down a China-based disinformation network which sought to influence the US midterms, although it was largely ineffective due to the time difference between the two countries and the propaganda workers’ regular working hours. The network, which Meta described as “small”…