Facebook deletes accounts suspected of Russia links
Social media giant removes pages influencing voters as Trump’s former election chief’s fraud trial begins
Rozina Sabur
Natasha Bernal FACEBOOK has removed 32 pages and accounts for being involved in a coordinated campaign to influence social media users ahead of a crucial midterm election vote in the US.
The accounts, which were followed by more than 290,000 Facebook users, were created between March 2017 and May 2018, the social media giant said. They spent $11,000 (£8,400) on 150 Facebook and Instagram ads, the last of which was created last month.
The company said it was unable to link any of the accounts or pages to Russia, but admitted that some of their activity was “consistent” with that of the Internet Research Agency, a Kremlinbacked organisation accused of interfering with the 2016 presidential vote.
The Facebook accounts and pages were used to set up events about divisive issues, including a march in Washington DC to protest against the far Right. In some cases, thousands of real Facebook users had declared their interests in the events.
The accounts used advance tactics to mask their identity, including hiding their location and paying other organisations to run adverts.
Facebook said it first discovered eight pages, 17 profiles and seven Instagram accounts two weeks ago. All of the pages and accounts were deleted following an investigation on “co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour” yesterday. The company said it had informed US law enforcement agencies, Congress and other tech during its investigation.
The disclosure comes as the Russia investigation, which is examining links between Donald Trump’s campaign and the Kremlin, was put to its first real test with the trial of the president’s companies former campaign chief. Paul Manafort, 69, is accused of 18 separate counts of bank and tax fraud charges.
Mr Manafort, who has spent the past month in jail after his bail was revoked, entered Alexandria’s district court yesterday in a smart black suit and flashed a quick smile to waiting reporters.
Robert Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia probe, claims Mr Manafort made $60 million from Ukrainian political figures. A “high percentage” of that was funnelled into offshore accounts and shell companies to evade taxes, Mr Mueller said in court documents. Mr Manafort is also accused of lying to banks to obtain millions more in loans after his employers, the pro-russian party of Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych, lost power in 2014 and his income dried up.
The trial is being closely watched in Washington where the Russia investigation has divided opinion. Mr Trump’s supporters argue it is a politically motivated witch hunt, and a failed first attempt at a prosecution could weaken support for Mr Mueller and his team.
Judge T S Ellis has already voiced concerns that prosecutors are pursuing Mr Manafort to obtain dirt on Mr Trump and his associates.