Foreign disinformation network targets Australians with fake breaking news

Matthew Elmas October 06, 2026
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Foreign disinformation pages are fabricating news stories to drive clicks to ad-laden websites. Image by AAP/Facebook

WHAT WAS CLAIMED

Anthony Albanese called Peta Credlin an "insult to Australian values".

OUR VERDICT

False. The quote has been fabricated by foreign-run disinformation actors.

AAP FACTCHECK - A foreign disinformation operation is continuing to create Facebook pages targeting Australian social media users with made-up breaking news stories. 

A page called 365 Daily News began posting about Australian politics in August, but Facebook's transparency details show it is managed by users in Vietnam.

It frequently fabricates quotes from Australian politicians and media personalities in posts that direct users to an ad-laden website. 

It repeatedly targets Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, TV presenter Peta Credlin, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, foreign minister Penny Wong and independent senator Fatima Payman.

A screenshot of a Facebook page.
Facebook's transparency details shows the 365 Daily News page is managed by users in Vietnam. (AAP/Facebook)

The posts are duplicated by a network of more than a dozen foreign disinformation pages.

The text is also often copied and shared by Indonesian users who seek to monetise the traffic by outraging Australians with false claims. 

For example, a September 26 post by 365 Daily News claims Mr Albanese called Ms Credlin an "insult to Australian values", prompting a rebuke from the TV presenter on her News24 program.

The post features a composite image of Mr Albanese and Ms Credlin, while a comment underneath links users to an ad-strewn website that expands on the false claims. 

Peta Credlin speaks during a book launch in Sydney, November 25, 2019
Peta Credlin has become a favourite target for foreign-based disinformation spreaders. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

The quote attributed to Mr Albanese in the posts is fabricated, and there's no credible record of him saying the words attributed to him.

Near-identical posts have also been made by similar foreign-run Facebook pages, including Mood Space, Open Diary, Grounded Politics, Open Signal, The Viral Brief, Daily Observer, The Daily Brief, Zypher Brief, Future Cinema, Australia Times, Emerald Chronicle and Gaming Video.

Several Indonesian Facebook accounts also reposted the post's text in April.

Indonesia is a known hub for spammers who make money targeting Western audiences with contentious social media posts, as reported by Guardian Australia.

A screenshot of Facebook pages.
Near-identical posts are being shared by more than a dozen foreign-run Facebook pages. (AAP/Facebook)

Senator Hanson and Senator Wong are also frequent targets for foreign-run disinformation pages. 

A September 9 post by 365 Daily News claims Senator Hanson questioned Senator Wong over an $82 million "government funding controversy" during Senate Estimates.

"Canberra erupted into political controversy after Pauline Hanson raised explosive questions during a tense Senate Estimates hearing over an alleged A$82 million government funding controversy linked to Penny Wong's department," the post claims. 

"As officials faced mounting pressure, Hanson pointed to documents she claimed raised serious concerns about overseas grants, consultancy payments, taxpayer-funded programs and the level of oversight surrounding the spending."

The post includes images of both senators, while a comment directs users to an ad-laden website that expands on the false claims. 

A screenshot of a Facebook post.
There's no evidence the supposed Senate Estimates exchange ever occurred. (AAP/Facebook)

Senate Estimates hearings did not take place in September, according to official transcripts, and there is no record of Senator Hanson questioning Senator Wong in Senate Estimates about an $82 million "government funding controversy". 

Near-identical posts have been published by a network of foreign-run pages, including Aussie Vibes, American Political Review, Australia Diaries, Pacific Ledger, Capital Current Files, Veridox Press and The Daily Brief.

Many of those sharing the post appear to believe the scandal is real. 

"More Labor corruption!" a post sharing the claim reads.

AAP FactCheck has previously debunked numerous posts by foreign-run pages spreading disinformation targeting Mr Albanese, Senator Hanson and Senator Wong.

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Sources

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