Rubles for ugly Facebook ads

FACEBOOK ON Wednesday said it found that an operation likely based in Russia spent $100,000 on thousands of ads promoting divisive social and political messages in a two-year period through May.

Facebook said many of the 3,000 ads promoted 470 “inauthentic” accounts and pages that it has now suspended. The ads spread polarizing views on topics including immigration, race and gay rights, it said.

Another $50,000 went to about 2,200 “potentially politically related” ads and might have been bought by Russians in potential violation of U.S. election law.

Facebook announced the findings in a blog post by its chief security officer, Alex Stamos, and said it is cooperating with federal inquiries into influence operations during the 2016 presidential election. The company did not find a link to any presidential campaign.

Facebook also gave its findings to Robert Mueller, the special counsel in charge of investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, a source said.