Facebook's Evidence on 'Virtual Group Supporting Russia' Before US Elections

Facebook states that its findings indicate that a group of 'internet thugs' supporting the Russian government targeted public opinion of voters before last year's presidential election in the United States, for which they sold advertisements. Alex Stamos, Facebook's security chief, wrote on his blog on September 6 that the social network has collaborated with investigators in Congress and the Department of Justice on this matter. Congressional investigative committees and the FBI are currently conducting investigations into Russian interference in the US presidential election last year. Moscow has denied allegations of interference in the US elections. The Washington Post, citing sources familiar with the investigation process, reported that Facebook sold $100,000 worth of advertising space to a group of 'trolls' promoting Kremlin policies. Trolls or internet thugs are individuals or groups that operate on social media and the internet by spreading fake news, creating emotional atmospheres, stirring up controversy, and similar actions. Alex Stamos mentioned that Facebook also identified the sale of another $50,000 in advertisements for purely political purposes, which is likely connected to the Russian government. Most of the advertisements directed users to 470 'fake accounts' aimed at creating controversy and division on issues such as immigration, gun ownership rights, ethnicity and race, or LGBTQ+ rights. According to Facebook's security chief, these advertisements began in the summer of 2015, with a significant portion used in that year leading up to the 2016 US presidential election. Stamos stated that only a small part of the narratives directly mentioned Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, his Democratic rival, while most focused on promoting divisive discourse among various ideological groups. Facebook has blocked the identified fake accounts and stated that similar actions have been taken in France, Germany, and other countries that have held or will hold elections in recent months. Social media and internet giants, including specifically Facebook and Google, have come under intense pressure and criticism for spreading fake news and misleading reports for political purposes or to influence voters. In response to this pressure, Google and Facebook announced last November that sites producing fake news would no longer be able to use their advertising services. Research by Professor Mike Caulfield at Washington State University found that some of the fake news widely circulated during last year's US election campaigns included a fake story that Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump and another fake story claiming that the body of the investigator responsible for Hillary Clinton's emails was found. Professor Caulfield's research shows that these fake news stories were 'a thousand times' more widely circulated than real news from reputable newspapers and magazines. For example, the audience for the main reports from publications like the Washington Post, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, and Los Angeles Times was only five percent compared to the audience for a fake news story.