SILENCE, TROLLS

Facebook Blocks Dozens of Suspicious Accounts After Law Enforcement Tip

Says it is working to determine if any are tied to Russia’s infamous Internet Research Agency.

Facebook announced Monday that it had removed dozens of suspicious accounts involved in “coordinated” activity that “may be linked to foreign entities”—after receiving a tip from law enforcement. “Our very early-stage investigation has so far identified around 30 Facebook accounts and 85 Instagram accounts that may be engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior,” a company statement reads. Most of the Facebook pages were in French or Russian, while those on Instagram were in English, the company said. Facebook’s announcement came after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and FBI Director Christopher Wray warned in a joint statement that “foreign actors—and Russia in particular—continue to try to influence public sentiment and voter perceptions through actions intended to sow discord.” Facebook said it is working to determine if any of the accounts were linked to Russia’s infamous Internet Research Agency.

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