Meta says it has taken down about 20 covert influence operations in 2024

Firm names Russia as top source of such activity but says it is striking' how little AI was used to try to trick voters

Meta has intervened to take down about 20 covert influence operations around the world this year, it has emerged - though the tech firm said fears of AI-fuelled fakery warping elections had not materialised in 2024.

Nick Clegg, the president of global affairs at the company that runs Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said Russia was still the No 1 source of the adversarial online activity but said in a briefing it was striking" how little AI was used to try to trick voters in the busiest ever year for elections around the world.