Facebook Removes 3 More Networks for Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior

Facebook removed three more networks from its platform for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior, with two of them focused on the U.S. The first network consisted of two pages and 22 Instagram accounts, which were removed for foreign interference. Head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher said in a Newsroom post Tuesday that the accounts were operated—wittingly and unwittingly—by individuals from Mexico and Venezuela, and the U.S. was their primary target. Some of the people behind the accounts claimed to work for apparently nonexistent Polish firm Social CMS. The accounts posted in English and Spanish about news and current events in the U.S., including memes, a small portion of which had been posted by Russia’s Internet Research Agency. Gleicher said Facebook began its investigation after receiving information about the network’s off-platform activity from the FBI. One account followed at least one of the pages, and roughly 54,500 people followed one or more of the Instagram accounts, of which about one-half were in the U.S. Gleicher said the account with the largest following had under 15,000 followers. Examples of content from this network follow: Translation:Image overlay: A French bulldog goes viral on TikTok when it introduces its owner to its new pup. Caption: Comment below on your favorite breed of dog. Share this post with a dog owner! Via TikTok The second network was made up of 12 accounts, six pages and 11 Instagram accounts, and it was removed for government interference, or coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a government entity. The network originated in Iran and focused on Israel and the U.S., and information from the FBI also spurred the social network’s investigation. Content focused on Saudi Arabia’s activities in the Middle East and claims about an alleged massacre at international song contest Eurovision, which took place in Israel last year. Gleicher said Facebook found limited links to a network it removed in April and connections to individuals associated with the Iranian government. About 120 accounts followed one or more of the pages and approximately 700 people followed at least one of the Instagram accounts. Examples of content from this network follow: Translation: The series of operations by the Yemen Army and popular committees against the Saudi aggressors continues. The Yemen Army’s artillery unit targeted the Saudi aggressor’s positions in the border city of Najran in southern Saudi Arabia. This is while a Yemen army missile unit fired on the Saudi aggressor’s positions in Najran. The final network consisted of nine accounts, eight pages, two groups and two Instagram accounts, originating in Myanmar and focused on domestic audiences. The network posted primarily in Burmese about current events in Rakhine state in Myanmar, including posts in support of the Arakan Army and criticism of Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces. Around 18,500 accounts followed at least one of the pages, while about 50 joined one or more of the groups and some 25 people followed at least one of the Instagram accounts. Examples of content from this network follow: Translation: Page title: Homeland of Arakans Caption: Houses in Kyaut Taw Township were destroyed and burnt as a result of the Myanmar military using gunship helicopters and violently shooting at the village. Translation: Rakhine Nation called Arakan was once a very wealthy country many years ago. It turned into a poor region after Myanmar ruled the region for about two hundred years. Not going to mention the Hereditary monarchy system. There was no war at Rakhine 70 years after getting independence. Why did Rakhine turn into a poor region? Those who claim that war could bring a consequence of poverty should answer the question. Why did Rakhine become extremely poor in these 70 years? Translation: Rakhine’s history is not going to repeat twice. Rakhine revolution began because 70 years after Myanmar got independence Rakhine suffered a loss in resources causing Rakhine people to be living in the second poorest region. This suffering has turned into fumes which is to severely revenge. Today’s Rakhine revolution is never going to end. No matter how the Myanmar government is describing Rakhine and how they will strike Rakhine, the suffering of Rakhine people will never be cured. Peace is just a word for those defeated ones to offer. For those with victory, peace is always in their hands. It can be noted that the Myanmar military and Myanmar government have felt very proud of their project in eliminating all resources of Rakhine and this stimulates Arakan to strike. Myanmar military will only win when all Rakhine people die and also, if all Rakhine are not able to be eliminated, Myanmar military will have to go back to their original route. Rakhine people today have hatred towards the Myanmar military and government. Since Rakhine from all walks of life accept that there is nothing better than revolution, Rakhine history is not going to repeat twice. All the governors and nationalists need to understand these. Daughter of Saw Devi Ar Rakha Gleicher wrote, “The networks we removed today were caught early in their operation, before they were able to build their audience. As it gets harder to go undetected for long periods of time, we see malicious actors attempt to play on our collective expectation of widespread interference to create the perception that they’re more impactful than they in fact are. We call it perception hacking—an attempt to weaponize uncertainty to sow distrust and division.”

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Facebook Removes 3 More Networks for Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior

2 of them took aim at the US

David Cohen

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David Cohen