It is understood that Facebook deleted 13 accounts and two pages linked to IRA supported by the Kremlin. These accounts and pages misled other users regarding their true identity and purpose. This network is concentrated in the United States, the United Kingdom, Algeria, Egypt, and other English-speaking countries. Approximately 5% of English content targeted the United States. They published news about US President Donald Trump, the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon, and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ campaign to defeat Trump. Facebook said that some of the accounts used fake profile photos, and they also impersonated news editors and tricked freelance writers to write reports for their website. About 14,000 accounts followed one of the pages.
It is reported that the Facebook page of PeaceData, which claims to be a "global news organization", is no longer on this social network. It is reported that over 200 people have followed this page. Twitter also said on Tuesday that it suspended five accounts related to PeaceData and the agency’s LinkedIn account is no longer available. Nevertheless, the PeaceData website is still running, which highlights the challenges faced by a cyber warfare that relies on multiple Internet platforms. In this regard, Twitter and Facebook both said that they are blocking links to the PeaceData website. According to Graphika data, PeaceData published more than 500 articles in English and 200 articles in Arabic between February and August. In a report released on Tuesday,
Graphika pointed out: “It portrays the United States as a country that sells wars and illegalities abroad while being ravaged by racism, the new crown virus and cruel capitalism at home.”
Russia’s IRA was in 2016. The presidential election in the United States used fake social media accounts to sow discord among Americans. However, the news about the Russian Troll Network did not surface until the end of the U.S. election, which raised concerns about whether Facebook has done enough to protect the U.S. election. In March of this year, both Facebook and Twitter stated that they had shut down a fake Russia-related account network created in Ghana in 2019.
And before the FBI provided these Russia-related account sites to the social network, the construction of these account networks that Facebook withdrew in August was still in the early stages.
In response to this, Nathaniel Gleicher, who is in charge of Facebook’s cybersecurity policy, said at a press conference: “These trolls are in a dilemma. They can operate a huge noisy network, but they will soon be caught; or they can work very hard. I hide myself but I still get caught and don’t get much attention.”
Graphika said that IRA uses artificial avatars generated by artificial intelligence. This is the first time they have seen these Russian sprayers use this strategy. The network appears to be aimed at activists and left-wing users.
Facebook also said on Tuesday that it has also deleted more than 450 fake accounts targeting Pakistan and India, more than 130 Facebook and Instagram accounts, and pages related to an American communications company that mainly serves Venezuela, Mexico and Bolivia.
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