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posted by martyb on Saturday September 09 2017, @11:46AM   Printer-friendly
from the better-buy-some-better-bots dept.

Facebook admits Russian ad campaign on divisive social and political issues

Facebook has coughed up it has detected Russian ads bought for around $100,000 on issues not directly naming parties or candidates and further $50,000 on directly political messages. They use the terms "information operations" and "US presidential election" in the press release. After sharing some more specifics the press release degenerates to rambling about "inauthentic accounts" and how Facebook will not allow accounts to repeatedly spread fake news via ads.

Submitter: I think Facebook is a dangerous corporation you should steer clear of. Don't give them your activity or your money. For the sake of democracy.

Russian Bots Bought Facebook Ads During the Election

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/technology/facebook-russian-political-ads.html

Providing new evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election, Facebook disclosed on Wednesday that it had identified more than $100,000 worth of divisive ads on hot-button issues purchased by a shadowy Russian company linked to the Kremlin.

Most of the 3,000 ads did not refer to particular candidates but instead focused on divisive social issues such as race, gay rights, gun control and immigration, according to a post on Facebook by Alex Stamos, the company’s chief security officer. The ads, which ran between June 2015 and May 2017, were linked to some 470 fake accounts and pages the company said it had shut down.

Facebook officials said the fake accounts were created by a Russian company called the Internet Research Agency, which is known for using “troll” accounts to post on social media and comment on news websites.


Original Submission #1Original Submission #2

 
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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Runaway1956 on Saturday September 09 2017, @01:37PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Saturday September 09 2017, @01:37PM (#565636) Journal

    So, Facefook aided and abetted the Russians who hacked America. Got it. So, now what is Facefook going to do? Oh - they're going to continue hacking America, and selling the data that they mine to the highest bidder. Got it.

    Facefook is about as American as the KGB or the Stasi.

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