Facebook finds ‘sophisticated’ efforts to disrupt US politics – possibly by Russia – ahead of midterm elections
The company says it removed 32 accounts from Facebook and Instagram involved in ‘coordinated’ behaviour and appeared to be fake; there may be connections to Russia
Facebook says it has uncovered “sophisticated” efforts, possibly linked to Russia, to influence US politics on its platforms.
The social media company said on Tuesday that it removed 32 accounts from Facebook and Instagram because they were involved in “coordinated” behaviour and appeared to be fake.
Facebook stopped short of saying the effort was aimed at influencing the US midterm elections in November, although the timing of the activity would be consistent with such an attempt.
According to a Facebook official, the company held briefings in the House of Representatives and the Senate this week. The official declined to be named because the briefings were private. Facebook disclosed its findings after The New York Times reported on them earlier Tuesday.
The company said it does not know who is behind the efforts, but said there may be connections to Russia.
Facebook said it has found some connections between the accounts it removed and the accounts connected to Russia’s internet Research Agency that it removed before and after the 2016 US presidential elections.
