Facebook removed two separate networks from its platform for violating policies related to foreign interference and government interference. It also removed one inauthentic network targeting Myanmar.
“Today we removed three separate networks for violating our policy against coordinated inauthentic behavior,” Facebook wrote in a press release on Tuesday. “Two of these networks targeted the United States, among other countries, and one network originated in and targeted domestic audiences in Myanmar.”
Both investigations into the networks that targeted the U.S. were initiated because of information provided by the FBI about the network’s off-platform activity. Together, the two investigations resulted in the removal of 12 Facebook accounts, eight Facebook pages, and 33 Instagram accounts.
Facebook noted both networks were removed “early in their operations” but used their limited scope to participate in “perception hacking,” using small disinformation campaigns to create the appearance of a coordinated effort.
“The networks we removed today were caught early in their operation, before they were able to build their audience,” Facebook wrote. “As it gets harder to go undetected for long periods of time, we see malicious actors attempt to play on our collective expectation of wide-spread interference to create the perception that they’re more impactful than they in fact are.”
One of the campaigns, which began creating accounts in April 2020, was operated by individuals in Mexico and Venezuela. They distributed content about “race relations and racial injustice, feminism and gender relations, environmental issues and religion” and tried to use authentic accounts “to amplify this operation’s content.”
The second operation was removed for “coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a government entity” and originated in Iran. Facebook found connections between these accounts and another operation removed in April 2020, which Facebook linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Corporation.
In its announcement, Facebook cautioned against exaggerating the effect that these campaigns have, especially when they are caught in their early stages.
“It’s important that we all stay vigilant, but also see these campaigns for what they are — small and ineffective,” Facebook added. “Overstating the importance of these campaigns is exactly what these malicious actors want, and we should not take the bait.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Facebook for further comment.
