Facebook Inc. dismantled a new set of influence campaigns originating in Iran and Russia designed to sow division in global politics, part of the social-media company’s broader purge of bad actors on its site.
Those originating in Iran, a total of 652 pages and accounts, were flagged for “coordinated inauthentic behavior” and targeted internet services in the U.S., Middle East, U.K. and Latin America. The activity appears to reflect increasing attempts by the Iranian regime to push its geopolitical agenda through online subterfuge.
Facebook separately took down an unspecified number of accounts and pages that it said originated in Russia. While much of Russia’s alleged activity on Facebook in the past has centered on U.S. social issues, the bad actors identified in the latest purge were focused on politics in Syria and Ukraine. Facebook said it found no evidence the campaigns by Russia and Iran were connected.
“We’ve been investigating some of these campaigns for months now, which highlights the tension we face in every investigation between removing bad actors quickly and improving our defenses over time,” Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said during a hastily scheduled conference call with reporters late Tuesday. “Because if we remove them too early, it’s harder to understand their playbook and the extent of their network. It can also make it harder for law enforcement.”
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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