Facebook ramps up election security efforts ahead of 2020

WASHINGTON — Facebook on Monday said it removed Russian-backed accounts that showed some links to the internet Research Agency and in some cases posed as locals weighing in on political issues in swing states, an indication of the persistence of the tech giant’s disinformation problem a year before voters head to the ballot box.

The internet Research Agency is the Kremlinbacked entity that sowed social and political unrest during the 2016 presidential race. Facebook said the network it disabled Monday “took consistent operational security steps to conceal their identity and location.”

Facebook said it also removed three other foreign networks that originated in Iran.

The social-media company unveiled a series of policy changes meant to fine-tune its defenses against disinformation, though Facebook left untouched a policy that allows political candidates to lie in their political ads.

Facebook said it will add more prominent labels on debunked posts on Facebook and Instagram. It will put labels on what are deemed “false” and “partly false” photos and videos.

The fake accounts purportedly linked to the IRA sought to wade into divisive issues, including race and Confederate pride, and posted on both sides of the political spectrum.

Several accounts voiced support for President Donald Trump, as well as for Bernie Sanders, a candidate for the Democratic nomination. The online operation aimed its fire at several Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.