In a display of even-handedness, Facebook and Twitter have taken down a series of accounts that have for five years been engaging in pro-Western propaganda.
In a display of even-handedness, Facebook and Twitter have taken down a series of accounts that have for five years been engaging in pro-Western propaganda.
Twitter said the accounts violated its policies on platform manipulation and spam, while Meta described them as ‘coordinated inauthentic behavior’.
Following the takedown of the accounts during this month and last, data was handed over to social media analytics firm Graphika and the Stanford Internet Observatory for analysis.
The accounts were found to be targeting users in the Middle East and central Asia with narratives promoting the interests of the US and its allies, while opposing countries including Russia, China, and Iran.
They heavily criticized Russia in particular for the deaths of innocent civilians and other atrocities committed by its soldiers following the invasion of Ukraine in February this year. Some also promoted anti-extremism messaging.
