Facebook Removes 14 Networks for Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior in March 2021

Facebook released its coordinated inauthentic behavior report for March 2021, sharing details on 14 networks that were removed, originating from 11 countries. The actions involved a total of 1,167 accounts, 290 Instagram accounts, 255 pages and 34 groups. Details follow on the networks that were removed last month. Albania: 128 accounts, 41 pages, 21 groups and 146 Instagram accounts that targeted global audiences, including Iran, were removed. Facebook’s investigation linked it to MEK, an exiled militant opposition group from Iran now based in Albania.Benin: 21 accounts, 16 pages and nine Instagram accounts targeting domestic audiences were removed.Comoros: 33 accounts, 12 pages and five Instagram accounts targeting domestic audiences were removed. The company’s investigation linked the network to Centre Médiatique Moderne des Comores, a communications company in Comoros.Egypt: 17 accounts, six pages and three Instagram accounts were removed, targeting Ethiopia, Sudan, and Turkey. This network was linked to Bee Interactive, a marketing firm in Egypt.Georgia: 23 accounts, 24 pages, 12 groups and 11 Instagram accounts targeting domestic audiences were removed. The company’s investigation tied the network to individuals associated with Georgian March, a political party in Georgia, and its youth wing.Iran: 29 accounts, two pages, one group and 10 Instagram accounts targeting Israel were removed. Facebook said it found this network as a result of its internal investigation into a network it removed last October.Israel: 37 accounts, 20 pages and one Instagram account targeting domestic audiences were removed, and the social network’s investigation found links to ElBaladd, a news website in Israel.Mexico: 151 accounts, 14 pages and 63 Instagram accounts from the state of Nayarit were removed for targeting domestic audiences in that state.Mexico: 71 accounts, 18 pages and seven Instagram accounts from the state of Quintana Roo were removed for targeting domestic audiences in that state.Mexico: 56 accounts from the state of Colima were removed for targeting domestic audiences in that state.Mexico: 54 accounts and 73 pages from the state of Baja California were removed for targeting domestic audiences in that state.Mexico: 39 accounts, 15 pages and eight Instagram accounts were removed for targeting domestic audiences.Spain and Argentina: 390 accounts, six pages and 17 Instagram accounts targeting Ecuador were removed. The company’s investigation found links to Leanga Software, a social media management company in Spain.Spain and El Salvador: 118 accounts, eight pages and 10 Instagram accounts were removed, targeting El Salvador. Facebook’s investigation found links to Spain-based employees of Italian public relations firm Reputation Up and individuals with a background in digital marketing working on behalf of the Arena party in El Salvador.

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Facebook Removes 14 Networks for Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior in March 2021

The actions involved a total of 1,167 accounts, 290 Instagram accounts, 255 pages, 34 groups

David Cohen

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David Cohen