Facebook removes Russian propaganda pages
"The two [information] operations we found originated in Russia, and one was active in a variety of countries while the other was specific to Ukraine. We didn't find any links between these operations, but they used similar tactics by creating networks of accounts to mislead others about who they were and what they were doing," the statement said.
According to the document, 364 Facebook pages and accounts engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior as part of a network that originated in Russia and operated in the Baltics, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Central and Eastern European countries. Some of the pages frequently posted about topics like anti-NATO sentiment, protest movements, and anti-corruption.
According to Facebook estimates, $135,000 in spending for ads on Facebook was paid for in euros, rubles, and U.S. dollars. The first ad ran in October 2013, and the most recent ad ran in January 2019.
Separately, based on an initial tip from U.S. law enforcement, Facebook also removed 107 Facebook pages, groups, and accounts, as well as 41 Instagram accounts, for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior as part of a network that originated in Russia and operated in Ukraine. According to Facebook, $25,000 in rubles was paid for publications that were posted here from January to December 2018.
Facebook identified some technical overlap with Russia-based activity it saw prior to the U.S. midterm elections.
"Our security efforts are ongoing to help us stay a step ahead and uncover this kind of abuse, particularly in light of important political moments and elections in Europe this year," Gleicher added.
In November 2018, Facebook said it had removed 30 Facebook accounts and 85 from Instagram just before the U.S. midterm election for operating with "coordinated inauthentic behavior."
