Facebook Deletes Fake Accounts That Mimic Russian Tactics Ahead of Election

[Steeleballz 7,550]

Facebook Inc. said it deleted a new group of politically oriented accounts that were engaged in coordinated misinformation efforts ahead of the U.S. midterm elections that resemble Russian activities on the platform during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The social-media giant on Tuesday said it removed 32 pages and accounts from its main service and its Instagram photo-sharing app that were created between March 2017 and May of this year. The pages and accounts—which include names such as “Aztlan Warriors,” “Black Elevation,” and “Resisters”—collectively created more than 9,500 posts and were followed by more than 290,000 other Facebook accounts.

 

Facebook said those responsible for the accounts and pages took great care to cover their tracks, using virtual-private networks and internet phone services and routing ad purchases through third parties. It said the “Resisters” page, one of the most popular of the group, created an event page on Facebook for a protest planned for Aug. 10-12 called “No Unite the Right 2 - DC” that enlisted support from real people. It was scheduled to protest another event planned for Washington, D.C., called “Unite the Right.”

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-removes-fake-accounts-that-displayed-activity-consistent-with-russian-efforts-during-2016-election-1533055712

 

[smilesammich 10,727]

unite the right isn't coming back to charlottesville this year? tis a pity 😂

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

4 minutes ago, smilesammich said:

unite the right isn't coming back to charlottesville this year? tis a pity 😂

I thought civil dissent was a good thing ?

[smilesammich 10,727]

Just now, Nature Boy Flair said:

I thought civil dissent was a good thing ?

i'm sorry, nazis and skinheads are not practicing civil dissent..

it will do no good to disagree with me here, it's just the way i was raised. 

 

[Steeleballz 7,550]

31 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

I thought civil dissent was a good thing ?

 

  Russians actually have several valid reasons for such dissent. Why not do so in Russia?

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

44 minutes ago, Nature Boy Flair said:

I thought civil dissent was a good thing ?

Only if it fits your personal agenda.  Otherwise, it is evil and should be prevented at all costs.

[smilesammich 10,727]

3 minutes ago, Satisfied said:

Only if it fits your personal agenda.  Otherwise, it is evil and should be prevented at all costs.

it's a moral code that determines if civil disobedience is justified, not personal agenda.

[yuna628 9,547]

9 minutes ago, Satisfied said:

Only if it fits your personal agenda.  Otherwise, it is evil and should be prevented at all costs.

Nazism and racism shouldn't fit anyone's personal agenda in a moral and good society. Though such personal beliefs are allowed in this country, if it should follow a personal agenda, it still doesn't make it any less evil.

[Steeleballz 7,550]

Just now, yuna628 said:

Nazism and racism shouldn't fit anyone's personal agenda in a moral and good society. Though such personal beliefs are allowed in this country, if it should follow a personal agenda, it still doesn't make it any less evil.

 

  Ironically enough, if someone tried to start a nazi right wing protest in Russia, chances are good they would end up beaten and in jail for starting the disorder. 

 

  Really though, it's silly to pretend this is about civil dissent. Russian government actors attempting to ferment discord in the USA is not civil disobedience. 

[Dashinka 23,390]

30 minutes ago, Steeleballz said:

 

  Ironically enough, if someone tried to start a nazi right wing protest in Russia, chances are good they would end up beaten and in jail for starting the disorder. 

 

  Really though, it's silly to pretend this is about civil dissent. Russian government actors attempting to ferment discord in the USA is not civil disobedience. 

Are you sure this is what is going on, or is FB trying to run damage control for their rather significant losses suffered in the past few days?

[smilesammich 10,727]

2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Are you sure this is what is going on, or is FB trying to run damage control for their rather significant losses suffered in the past few days?

randomly deleting pages isn't going to recoup their losses.

[Dashinka 23,390]

25 minutes ago, smilesammich said:

randomly deleting pages isn't going to recoup their losses.

But the timing is certainly suspicious.

[smilesammich 10,727]

1 minute ago, Bill & Katya said:

But the timing is certainly suspicious.

doesn't seem suspicious to me. have you looked into any of the removed pages/groups?

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 hour ago, smilesammich said:

it's a moral code that determines if civil disobedience is justified, not personal agenda.

Like you said, to disagree with you is pointless.  

 

But to others here, morals can be personal.  In fact, my morals are very personal, as I am not a religious person.  And my personal morals are against naziism and racism, just so we are all clear.

[Dashinka 23,390]

15 hours ago, smilesammich said:

doesn't seem suspicious to me. have you looked into any of the removed pages/groups?

Don't really pay much attention to FB and in particular anything that is political on FB, so the answer is no.  In my opinion, anyone making political decisions from a platform like FB or Twitter, or anything else social media related is a bit shallow, but since FB decided that they were more important politically than they really are, I guess it is just karma that they are taking a financial hit.