Facebook Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! === Political manipulation === {{See also|State-sponsored Internet propaganda}} [[File:Berlin_(9163009052).jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|Graffiti in Berlin of Facebook founder [[Mark Zuckerberg]]. The caption is a reference to [[George Orwell]]'s novel ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]''.]] <!-- This section needs a dedicated article "Political manipulations on Facebook" --> As a dominant social-web service with massive outreach, Facebook have been used by identified or unidentified political operatives to affect public opinion. Some of these activities have been done in violation of the platform policies, creating "coordinated inauthentic behavior", support or attacks. These activities can be scripted or [[Troll farm|paid]]. Various such abusive campaign have been revealed in recent years, best known being the [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections]]. In 2021, former Facebook analyst within the ''Spam'' and ''Fake Engagement'' teams, [[Sophie Zhang (whistleblower)|Sophie Zhang]], reported more than 25 political subversion operations and criticized the general slow reaction time, oversightless, laissez-faire attitude by Facebook.<ref name="Ex">{{Citation|title=Ex-Facebook employee on the company's dangerous loophole: 'Autocrats don't bother to hide'|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYigm8R2ep8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/eYigm8R2ep8 |archive-date=December 19, 2021 |url-status=live|language=en|access-date=April 15, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Wong-2021">{{Cite news|last=Wong|first=Julia Carrie|date=April 12, 2021|title=How Facebook let fake engagement distort global politics: a whistleblower's account|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/12/facebook-fake-engagement-whistleblower-sophie-zhang|access-date=April 15, 2021|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="the Guardian-2021">{{cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/apr/12/facebook-loophole-state-backed-manipulation|title=Revealed: the Facebook loophole that lets world leaders deceive and harass their citizens|date=April 12, 2021|website=the Guardian}}</ref> ==== Influence Operations and Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior ==== In 2018, Facebook stated that during 2018 they had identified "coordinated inauthentic behavior" in "many Pages, Groups and accounts created to stir up political debate, including in the US, the Middle East, Russia and the UK."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gleicher|first1=Nathaniel|last2=Rodriguez|first2=Oscar|title=Removing Additional Inauthentic Activity from Facebook|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/10/removing-inauthentic-activity/|publisher=Facebook Newsroom|access-date=May 27, 2019|date=October 11, 2018}}</ref> Campaigns operated by the British intelligence agency unit, called [[Joint Threat Research Intelligence Group]], have broadly fallen into two categories; cyber attacks and propaganda efforts. The propaganda efforts utilize "mass messaging" and the "pushing [of] stories" via social media sites like Facebook.<ref>{{cite web|title=Snowden Docs: British Spies Used Sex and 'Dirty Tricks'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/snowden-docs-british-spies-used-sex-dirty-tricks-n23091|work=[[NBC News]]|date=February 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Snowden leaks: GCHQ 'attacked Anonymous' hackers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26049448|work=[[BBC News]]|date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> Israel's [[Jewish Internet Defense Force]], the [[Chinese Communist Party]]'s [[50 Cent Party]] and Turkey's [[AK Trolls]] also focus their attention on social media platforms like Facebook.<ref>{{cite news|title=China's 'troll factory' targeting Taiwan with disinformation prior to election|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3568146|work=Taiwan News|date=May 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Trolls, bots and shutdowns: This is how Turkey manipulates public opinion|url=https://ahvalnews.com/freedoms/trolls-bots-and-shutdowns-how-turkey-manipulates-public-opinion|work=Ahval|date=November 17, 2017|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111190541/https://ahvalnews.com/freedoms/trolls-bots-and-shutdowns-how-turkey-manipulates-public-opinion|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Jewish Internet Defense Force 'seizes control' of anti-Israel Facebook group|url=https://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/Jewish-Internet-Defense-Force-seizes-control-of-anti-Israel-Facebook-group|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=July 29, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Morrison |first=Sarah |title=Jewish Activist Battles For Israel on Facebook |newspaper=Israel National News |date=March 4, 2008 |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/125783 }}{{better source needed|date=July 2022}}</ref> In July 2018, Samantha Bradshaw, co-author of the report from the [[Oxford Internet Institute]] (OII) at [[Oxford University]], said that "The number of countries where formally organised [[social media manipulation]] occurs has greatly increased, from 28 to 48 countries globally. The majority of growth comes from political parties who spread [[disinformation]] and junk news around election periods."<ref>{{cite news|title=Social media manipulation rising globally, new report warns|url=http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2018-07-20-social-media-manipulation-rising-globally-new-report-warns|publisher=University of Oxford|date=July 20, 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, ''The Daily Telegraph'' reported that Facebook "banned hundreds of pages and accounts that it says were fraudulently flooding its site with partisan political content β although they came from the United States instead of being associated with [[Russia]]."<ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook: Most political trolls are American, not Russian|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/10/11/facebook-political-trolls-american-not-russian/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/10/11/facebook-political-trolls-american-not-russian/ |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|date=October 12, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In December 2018, ''The Washington Post'' reported that "Facebook has suspended the account of Jonathon Morgan, the chief executive of a top social media research firm" [[New Knowledge]], "after reports that he and others engaged in an operation to spread disinformation" on Facebook and Twitter during the [[2017 United States Senate special election in Alabama]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Facebook suspends five accounts, including that of a social media researcher, for misleading tactics in Alabama election |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/12/22/facebook-suspends-five-accounts-including-social-media-researcher-misleading-tactics-alabama-election/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Democratic operatives created fake Russian bots designed to link Kremlin to Roy Moore in Alabama race |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/democratic-operatives-created-fake-russian-bots-in-alabama-race-designed-to-link-kremlin-to-republican-roy-moore |work=[[Fox News]] |date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> In January 2019, Facebook said it has removed 783 Iran-linked accounts, pages and groups for engaging in what it called "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".<ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook Says It Removed 783 Accounts Tied to an Iranian Manipulation Campaign|url=http://fortune.com/2019/01/31/facebook-manipulation-campaign-iran-fake-news/|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|date=January 31, 2019}}</ref> In March 2019, Facebook sued four Chinese firms for selling "fake accounts, likes and followers" to amplify Chinese [[state media]] outlets.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 20, 2019 |title=China is using Facebook to build a huge audience around the world |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2019/04/20/china-is-using-facebook-to-build-a-huge-audience-around-the-world |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 19, 2023 |issn=0013-0613 |quote=Facebook pages usually gain followers when people share posts with their friends. Chinese outlets receive far fewer shares than Western ones do, which implies that they use some other tactic to amass fans. Facebook has already accused Chinese actors of skullduggery. In March it sued four Chinese firms, which it said had sold "fake accounts, likes and followers".}}</ref> In May 2019, [[Tel Aviv]]-based private intelligence agency [[Archimedes Group]] was banned from Facebook for "coordinated inauthentic behavior" after Facebook found fake users in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Southeast Asia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48349671|title=Is Facebook undermining democracy in Africa?|last=Madowo|first=Larry|date=May 24, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref> Facebook investigations revealed that Archimedes had spent some $1.1 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|1100000|2019}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) on fake ads, paid for in Brazilian reais, Israeli shekels and US dollars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/change-reality-facebook-busts-israel-based-campaign-to-disrupt-elections-20190517-p51oad.html|title='Change reality': Facebook busts Israel-based campaign to disrupt elections|last1=Debre|first1=Isabel|last2=Satter|first2=Raphael|date=May 16, 2019|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref> Facebook gave examples of Archimedes Group political interference in Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Niger and Tunisia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/05/removing-coordinated-inauthentic-behavior-from-israel/|title=Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From Israel {{!}} Facebook Newsroom|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref> The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab said in a report that "The tactics employed by Archimedes Group, a private company, closely resemble the types of information warfare tactics often used by governments, and the Kremlin in particular."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/16/tech/facebook-takedown-israeli-company/index.html|title=Facebook says Israeli company used fake accounts to target African elections|last1=O'Sullivan|first1=Donie|last2=Gold|first2=Hadas|department=CNN Business|website=CNN|date=May 16, 2019|access-date=June 8, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-bans-israeli-firm-over-fake-political-activity-11558030115|title=Facebook Bans Israeli Firm Over Fake Political Activity|last=Needleman|first=Sarah E.|date=May 16, 2019|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=June 8, 2019|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> On May 23, 2019, Facebook released its Community Standards Enforcement Report highlighting that it has identified several fake accounts through artificial intelligence and human monitoring. In a period of six months, October 2018 β March 2019, the social media website removed a total of 3.39 billion fake accounts. The number of fake accounts was reported to be more than 2.4 billion real people on the platform.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/23/726353723/facebook-removed-nearly-3-2-billion-fake-accounts-in-last-six-months|title=Facebook Removed Nearly 3.4 Billion Fake Accounts in 6 Months|newspaper=[[NPR]]|date=May 23, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019|publisher=[[NPR]]|last1=Romo|first1=Vanessa|last2=Held|first2=Amy}}</ref> In July 2019, Facebook advanced its measures to counter deceptive political propaganda and other abuse of its services. The company removed more than 1,800 accounts and pages that were being operated from Russia, Thailand, Ukraine and Honduras.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-accounts/facebook-removes-fake-accounts-from-thailand-russia-ukraine-honduras-idUSKCN1UK0KE|title=Facebook removes fake accounts from Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, Honduras|access-date=July 25, 2019|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it was announced that the internet regulatory committee would block access to Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 4, 2022 |title=Russia blocks access to Facebook |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/03/04/russia-blocks-facebook/ |access-date=March 4, 2022 |website=[[TechCrunch]] |language=en-US}}</ref> On October 30, 2019, Facebook deleted several accounts of the employees working at the Israeli [[NSO Group]], stating that the accounts were "deleted for not following our terms". The deletions came after WhatsApp sued the Israeli surveillance firm for targeting 1,400 devices with [[spyware]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qudsnen.co/facebook-deletes-accounts-of-workers-at-nso-israeli-firm/|title=Facebook deletes accounts of workers at NSO Israeli firm|access-date=November 1, 2019|website=Quds News Network|date=November 2019|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817171324/https://qudsnen.co/facebook-deletes-accounts-of-workers-at-nso-israeli-firm/|url-status=dead}}</ref> {{anchor|American Edge}} In 2020, Facebook helped found [[American Edge]], an anti-regulation [[lobbying firm]] to fight anti-trust probes.<ref name="ae">{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/12/facebook-lobbying-american-edge/ |title=Facebook Helps Launch American Edge, a Dark-Money Advocacy Group for Big Tech |date=May 12, 2020 |access-date=May 12, 2020 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|language=en-US |last=Romm |first=Tony}}</ref> The group runs ads that "fail to mention what legislation concerns them, how those concerns could be fixed, or how the horrors they warn of could actually happen", and do not clearly disclose that they are funded by Facebook.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.brookings.edu/articles/history-repeats-itself-with-big-techs-misleading-advertising/ |accessdate=August 26, 2023 |title=History repeats itself with Big Tech's misleading advertising |first=Tom |last=Wheeler |date=June 15, 2022 |publisher=[[Brookings Institution]]}}</ref> In 2020, the government of Thailand forced Facebook to take down a Facebook group called Royalist Marketplace with one million members following potentially illegal posts shared. The authorities have also threatened Facebook with legal action. In response, Facebook is planning to take legal action against the Thai government for suppression of freedom of expression and violation of human rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/08/24/tech/facebook-blocks-thailand-group/index.html|title=Facebook prepares legal action against Thai government's order to block group|access-date=August 25, 2020|website=CNN International|date=August 24, 2020 }}</ref> In February 2021, Facebook removed the main page of the Myanmar military, after two protesters were shot and killed during the [[2021 Myanmar protests|anti-coup protests]]. Facebook said that the page breached its guidelines that prohibit the incitement of violence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-21/facebook-removes-main-page-of-myanmar-military/13176760|title=Facebook removes main page of Myanmar military for 'incitement of violence'|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=ABC News|date=February 21, 2021}}</ref> On February 25, Facebook announced to ban all accounts of the Myanmar military, along with the "[[Tatmadaw]]-linked commercial entities". Citing the "exceptionally severe human rights abuses and the clear risk of future military-initiated violence in Myanmar", the tech giant also implemented the move on its subsidiary, [[Instagram]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210225-facebook-bans-myanmar-military-accounts-from-its-platforms-citing-coup|title=Facebook bans Myanmar military accounts from its platforms, citing coup|access-date=February 25, 2021|website=France 24|date=February 25, 2021}}</ref> In March 2021, ''The Wall Street Journal''{{'s}} editorial board criticized Facebook's decision to fact-check its op-ed titled "We'll Have Herd immunity by April" written by surgeon [[Marty Makary]], calling it "counter-opinion masquerading as [[fact-checking|fact checking]]."<ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=March 5, 2021|title=Opinion: Fact-Checking Facebook's Fact Checkers |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/fact-checking-facebooks-fact-checkers-11614987375|access-date=March 7, 2021|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> Facebook guidelines allow users to call for the death of public figures, they also allow praise of mass killers and 'violent non-state actors' in some situations.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 23, 2021|title=Facebook guidelines allow for users to call for death of public figures|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/23/facebook-guidelines-allow-for-users-to-call-for-death-of-public-figures|access-date=March 23, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=March 23, 2021|title=Facebook leak underscores strategy to operate in repressive regimes|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/mar/23/facebook-leak-underscore-strategy-operate-repressive-regimes|access-date=March 25, 2021|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In 2021, former Facebook analyst within the ''Spam'' and ''Fake Engagement'' teams, [[Sophie Zhang (whistleblower)|Sophie Zhang]], reported on more than 25 political subversion operations she uncovered while in Facebook, and the general laissez-faire by the private enterprise.<ref name="Ex" /><ref name="Wong-2021" /><ref name="the Guardian-2021" /> In 2021, Facebook was cited as playing a role in the fomenting of the [[2021 United States Capitol attack]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Brewster |first=Thomas |date=February 7, 2021 |title=Sheryl Sandberg Downplayed Facebook's Role In The Capitol Hill SiegeβJustice Department Files Tell A Very Different Story |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2021/02/07/sheryl-sandberg-downplayed-facebooks-role-in-the-capitol-hill-siege-justice-department-files-tell-a-very-different-story/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Timberg |first1=Craig |last2=Dwoskin |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Albergotti |first3=Reed |date=October 22, 2021 |title=Inside Facebook, Jan. 6 violence fueled anger, regret over missed warning signs |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/10/22/jan-6-capitol-riot-facebook/ |access-date=March 9, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en}}</ref> ==== Russian interference ==== {{See also|Internet Research Agency|Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections}} In 2018, Special Counsel [[Robert Mueller]] indicted 13 Russian nationals and three Russian organizations for "engaging in operations to interfere with U.S. political and electoral processes, including the 2016 presidential election."<ref>{{cite news|title=Internet Research Agency indicted: Who is the Russian company behind the fake Facebook ads?|url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/internet-research-agency-indicted-who-is-the-russian-company-behind-the-fake-facebook-ads|work=[[Fox News]]|date=February 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=13 Russians Indicted as Mueller Reveals Effort to Aid Trump Campaign|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/us/politics/russians-indicted-mueller-election-interference.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216182422/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/us/politics/russians-indicted-mueller-election-interference.html |archive-date=February 16, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Exposing Russia's Effort to Sow Discord Online: The Internet Research Agency and Advertisements|url=https://intelligence.house.gov/social-media-content/|website=intelligence.house.gov|publisher=Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|access-date=May 27, 2019|archive-date=January 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128044519/https://intelligence.house.gov/social-media-content/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Mueller contacted Facebook subsequently to the company's disclosure that it had sold more than $100,000 (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|100000|2016}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) worth of ads to a company ([[Internet Research Agency]], owned by Russian billionaire and businessman [[Yevgeniy Prigozhin]]) with links to the Russian intelligence community before the [[2016 United States presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-gave-special-counsel-robert-mueller-more-details-on-russian-ad-buys-than-congress-1505514552|title=Facebook Gave Special Counsel Robert Mueller More Details on Russian Ad Buys Than Congress|last1=Seetharaman|first1=Deepa|date=September 15, 2017|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=September 15, 2017|last2=Tau|first2=Byron|issn=0099-9660|last3=Harris|first3=Shane}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Facebook sold $100,000 of political ads to fake Russian accounts during 2016 US election|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-russia-ads-us-election-political-adverts-trump-putin-fake-news-a7933461.html|access-date=May 24, 2019|work=[[The Independent]]|date=September 6, 2017 }}</ref> In September 2017, Facebook's chief security officer [[Alex Stamos]] wrote the company "found approximately $100,000 in ad spending from June 2015 to May 2017 β associated with roughly 3,000 ads β that was connected to about 470 inauthentic accounts and Pages in violation of our policies. Our analysis suggests these accounts and Pages were affiliated with one another and likely operated out of Russia."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Facebook Says Russian Accounts Bought $100,000 in Ads During the 2016 Election|url=http://time.com/4930532/facebook-russian-accounts-2016-election/|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=September 6, 2017}}</ref> Clinton and Trump campaigns spent $81 million (${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|81000000|2016}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}}) on Facebook ads.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Studies Show Pundits Are Wrong About Russian Social-Media Involvement in US Politics|url=https://www.thenation.com/article/russiagate-elections-interference/|work=The Nation|date=December 28, 2018|access-date=June 2, 2019|archive-date=June 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603215617/https://www.thenation.com/article/russiagate-elections-interference/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The company pledged full cooperation in [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|Mueller's investigation]], and provided all information about the Russian advertisements.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/06/facebook-gave-special-counsel-robert-mueller-data-on-russian-ads-report-says.html|title=Facebook gave special counsel Robert Mueller data on Russian ads, report says|last=Castillo|first=Michelle|website=[[CNBC]]|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2017}}</ref> Members of the [[United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence|House]] and [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate Intelligence Committees]] have claimed that Facebook had withheld information that could illuminate the Russian propaganda campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/facebooks-openness-on-russia-questioned-by-congressional-investigators/2017/09/18/060e1ee4-9c90-11e7-9083-fbfddf6804c2_story.html|title=Facebook's openness on Russia questioned by congressional investigators|last1=Leonnig|first1=Carol D.|date=September 18, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 19, 2017|last2=Dwoskin|first2=Elizabeth|issn=0190-8286|last3=Timberg|first3=Craig}}</ref> Russian operatives have used Facebook polarize the American public discourses, organizing both [[Black Lives Matter]] rallies<ref>{{cite news|title=Russians trolls organized a protest in the US|url=https://edition.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/06/25/russia-protest-philando-castile-distorting-truth-orig.cnn/video/playlists/russian-trolls-exploit-philando-castiles-death/|work=[[CNN]]|date=June 25, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Did Russian hackers organize Philando Castile protest? Activists say no|url=http://www.startribune.com/local-organizers-doubt-reports-of-russian-ties-to-castile-protest/454368633/|work=[[Star Tribune]]|date=November 1, 2017}}</ref> and anti-immigrant rallies on U.S. soil,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-russia-used-facebook-events-to-organize-anti-immigrant-rallies-on-us-soil|title=Exclusive: Russia Used Facebook Events to Organize Anti-Immigrant Rallies on U.S. Soil|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Poulsen|first2=Kevin|last3=Ackerman|first3=Spencer|date=September 12, 2017|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref> as well as anti-Clinton rallies<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://amp.businessinsider.com/facebook-group-russia-texas-anti-immigrant-rallies-2017-9|title=Shuttered Facebook group that organized anti-Clinton, anti-immigrant rallies across Texas was linked to Russia|work=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913202902/https://amp.businessinsider.com/facebook-group-russia-texas-anti-immigrant-rallies-2017-9|url-status=dead}}</ref> and rallies both for and against Donald Trump.<ref>"[http://fortune.com/2018/02/17/russian-organized-rallies-election-meddling/ Russians Staged Rallies For and Against Trump to Promote Discord, Indictment Says]". ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]''. February 17, 2018.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/russians-appear-to-use-facebook-to-push-pro-trump-flash-mobs-in-florida|title=Exclusive: Russians Appear to Use Facebook to Push Trump Rallies in 17 U.S. Cities|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Resnick|first2=Gideon|last3=Poulsen|first3=Kevin|last4=Ackerman|first4=Spencer|date=September 20, 2017|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=September 20, 2017}}</ref> Facebook ads have also been used to exploit divisions over black political activism and Muslims by simultaneously sending contrary messages to different users based on their political and demographic characteristics in order to sow discord.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/russian-operatives-used-facebook-ads-to-exploit-divisions-over-black-political-activism-and-muslims/2017/09/25/4a011242-a21b-11e7-ade1-76d061d56efa_story.html|title=Russian operatives used Facebook ads to exploit divisions over black political activism and Muslims|last1=Entous|first1=Adam|last2=Timberg|first2=Craig|last3=Dwoskin|first3=Elizabeth|date=September 25, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=September 25, 2017|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>"[https://money.cnn.com/2017/09/27/media/facebook-black-lives-matter-targeting/index.html Exclusive: Russian-bought Black Lives Matter ad on Facebook targeted Baltimore and Ferguson]". CNN. September 28, 2017.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/exclusive-russians-impersonated-real-american-muslims-to-stir-chaos-on-facebook-and-instagram|title=Exclusive: Russians Impersonated Real American Muslims to Stir Chaos on Facebook and Instagram|last1=Collins|first1=Ben|last2=Poulsen|first2=Kevin|last3=Ackerman|first3=Spencer|date=September 27, 2017|work=[[The Daily Beast]]|access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref> Zuckerberg has stated that he regrets having dismissed concerns over Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/27/mark-zuckerberg-says-facebook-impact-on-2016-election-went-beyond-ads.html|title=Mark Zuckerberg responds to Trump, regrets he dismissed election concerns|last=Shinal|first=John|date=September 27, 2017|work=[[CNBC]]|access-date=September 27, 2017}}</ref> Russian-American billionaire [[Yuri Milner]], who befriended Zuckerberg<ref>"[https://www.icij.org/investigations/paradise-papers/kremlin-owned-firms-linked-major-twitter-facebook-investments-icij/ Kremlin-owned Firms Linked to Major Investments in Twitter and Facebook]". ''International Consortium of Investigative Journalists β ICIJ''. November 5, 2017.</ref> between 2009 and 2011, had [[Kremlin]] backing for his investments in Facebook and Twitter.<ref name="Drucker-2017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/05/world/yuri-milner-facebook-twitter-russia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105190211/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/05/world/yuri-milner-facebook-twitter-russia.html |archive-date=November 5, 2017 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Kremlin Cash Behind Billionaire's Twitter and Facebook Investments|last=Drucker|first=Jesse|date=November 5, 2017|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=November 6, 2017|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In January 2019, Facebook removed 289 pages and 75 coordinated accounts linked to the Russian state-owned news agency [[Sputnik (news agency)|Sputnik]] which had misrepresented themselves as independent news or general interest pages.<ref name=DaFN>{{cite web|title=Disinformation and 'fake news': Final Report|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/1791/179109.htm|website=publications.parliament.uk|publisher=Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee β House of Commons|access-date=May 24, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gleicher|first=Nathaniel|title=Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior from Russia|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2019/01/removing-cib-from-russia/|publisher=Facebook Newsroom|access-date=May 24, 2019|date=January 17, 2019}}</ref> Facebook later identified and removed an additional 1,907 accounts linked to Russia found to be engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behaviour".<ref>{{cite news|last=Cuthbertson|first=Antony|title=Facebook removes thousands more Russian accounts|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-russia-bots-brexit-account-iran-instagram-a8840256.html|access-date=May 24, 2019|work=[[The Independent]]|date=March 26, 2019 }}</ref> In 2018, a UK [[Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]] (DCMS) select committee report had criticised Facebook for its reluctance to investigate abuse of its platform by the Russian government, and for downplaying the extent of the problem, referring to the company as 'digital gangsters'.<ref>{{cite web|title=Disinformation and 'fake news': Interim Report|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmcumeds/363/36308.htm|website=publications.parliament.uk|publisher=Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee β House of Commons}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Cadwalladr|first=Carole|author-link=Carole Cadwalladr|title=A withering verdict: MPs report on Zuckerberg, Russia and Cambridge Analytica|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/28/dcms-report-fake-news-disinformation-brexit-facebook-russia|access-date=May 24, 2019|work=[[The Observer]]|date=July 28, 2018}}</ref><ref name="the Guardian-2019">{{cite web|date=February 18, 2019|title=Facebook labelled 'digital gangsters' by report on fake news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/18/facebook-fake-news-investigation-report-regulation-privacy-law-dcms|access-date=September 24, 2020|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref><blockquote>"Democracy is at risk from the malicious and relentless targeting of citizens with disinformation and personalised 'dark adverts' from unidentifiable sources, delivered through the major social media platforms we use every day," Damian Collins, DCMS Committee Chair<ref name="the Guardian-2019" /></blockquote>In February 2019, [[Glenn Greenwald]] wrote that a cybersecurity company New Knowledge, which is behind one of the [[United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence|Senate reports]] on Russian social media election interference, "was caught just six weeks ago engaging in a massive scam to create fictitious Russian troll accounts on Facebook and Twitter in order to claim that the Kremlin was working to defeat Democratic Senate nominee [[Doug Jones (politician)|Doug Jones]] in Alabama. ''[[The New York Times]]'', when exposing the scam, quoted a New Knowledge report that boasted of its fabrications..."<ref>{{cite news|title=NBC News, to Claim Russia Supports Tulsi Gabbard, Relies on Firm Just Caught Fabricating Russia Data for the Democratic Party|url=https://theintercept.com/2019/02/03/nbc-news-to-claim-russia-supports-tulsi-gabbard-relies-on-firm-just-caught-fabricating-russia-data-for-the-democratic-party/|work=The Intercept|date=February 3, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Secret Experiment in Alabama Senate Race Imitated Russian Tactics|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/alabama-senate-roy-jones-russia.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220010545/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/19/us/alabama-senate-roy-jones-russia.html |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=December 19, 2018}}</ref> ==== Anti-Rohingya propaganda ==== {{See also|Persecution of Muslims in Myanmar}} In 2018, Facebook took down 536<!--425+46+52+13--> Facebook pages, 17 Facebook groups, 175<!--135+12+18+10--> Facebook accounts, and 16<!--15+1--> Instagram accounts linked to the [[Myanmar]] military. Collectively these were followed by over 10 million people.<ref>{{cite web|title=Removing Myanmar Military Officials From Facebook|date=August 28, 2018|url=https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2018/08/removing-myanmar-officials/|publisher=Facebook Newsroom|access-date=May 27, 2019 }}</ref> ''The New York Times'' reported that:<ref>{{cite news|last=Mozur|first=Paul|title=A Genocide Incited on Facebook, With Posts From Myanmar's Military|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebook-genocide.html|access-date=May 27, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 15, 2018}}</ref> {{blockquote|after months of reports about anti-Rohingya propaganda on Facebook, the company acknowledged that it had been too slow to act in Myanmar. By then, more than 700,000 Rohingya had fled the country in a year, in what United Nations officials called "a textbook example of ethnic cleansing".}} ==== Anti-Muslim propaganda and Hindu nationalism in India ==== A 2019 book titled ''The Real Face of Facebook in India'', co-authored by the journalists [[Paranjoy Guha Thakurta]] and Cyril Sam, alleged that Facebook helped enable and benefited from the rise of [[Narendra Modi]]'s [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) in [[India]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Past and Future of Facebook and BJP's Mutually Beneficial Relationship|url=https://thewire.in/politics/bjp-facebook-india-modi|website=The Wire}}</ref> Ankhi Das, Facebook's policy director for India and South and Central Asia, apologized publicly in August 2020 for sharing a Facebook post that called Muslims in India a "degenerate community". She said she shared the post "to reflect my deep belief in celebrating feminism and civic participation".<ref>{{cite web|title=A Facebook Executive Who Shared An Anti-Muslim Post Has Apologized To Employees|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-executive-apologies-anti-muslim-post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426173931/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/pranavdixit/facebook-executive-apologies-anti-muslim-post|archive-date=April 26, 2023|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=BuzzFeed News|date=August 24, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She is reported to have prevented action by Facebook against anti-Muslim content<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Ellis-Petersen|first1=Hannah|last2=Rahman|first2=Shaikh Azizur|date=September 1, 2020|title=Facebook faces grilling by MPs in India over anti-Muslim hate speech|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/01/facebook-faces-grilling-by-mps-in-india-over-anti-muslim-hate-speech|access-date=September 2, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref name="The Wire" /> and supported the BJP in internal Facebook messages.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Horwitz|first1=Jeff|last2=Purnell|first2=Newley|date=August 30, 2020|title=Facebook Executive Supported India's Modi, Disparaged Opposition in Internal Messages|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-executive-supported-indias-modi-disparaged-opposition-in-internal-messages-11598809348|access-date=September 1, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=New Report Says Facebook's Ankhi Das Supported Modi, Hoped for BJP's Victory|url=https://thewire.in/tech/facebook-ankhi-das-modi-bjp-support-wsj-new-report|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref> In 2020, Facebook executives overrode their employees' recommendations that the BJP politician [[T. Raja Singh]] should be banned from the site for [[Hate speech laws in India|hate speech]] and rhetoric that could lead to violence. Singh had said on Facebook that [[Rohingya people|Rohingya Muslim immigrants]] should be shot and had threatened to destroy [[mosque]]s. Current and former Facebook employees told ''The Wall Street Journal'' that the decision was part of a pattern of favoritism by Facebook toward the BJP as it seeks more business in India.<ref name="The Wire">{{cite web|title=Watch {{!}} Why Did Facebook Not Remove BJP-Linked Anti-Muslim Hate Posts?|url=https://thewire.in/video/watch-facebook-bjp-hate-posts-wall-street-journal-raja-singh|access-date=September 1, 2020|website=The Wire}}</ref> Facebook also took no action after BJP politicians made posts accusing Muslims of intentionally spreading [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19]], an employee said.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Purnell|first1=Newley|last2=Horwitz|first2=Jeff|date=August 14, 2020|title=Facebook's Hate-Speech Rules Collide With Indian Politics|language=en-US|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-hate-speech-india-politics-muslim-hindu-modi-zuckerberg-11597423346|access-date=August 16, 2020|issn=0099-9660}}</ref> On August 31, 2020, the [[Delhi Legislative Assembly|Delhi Assembly]] began investigating whether Facebook bore blame for the [[2020 Delhi riots|2020 religious riots]] in the city, claiming it had found Facebook "prima facie guilty of a role in the violence".<ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=August 31, 2020|title=Assembly panel alleges role of Facebook in Delhi riots|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/assembly-panel-alleges-role-of-facebook-in-delhi-riots/article32488223.ece|access-date=September 2, 2020|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Deol|first=Taran|date=August 31, 2020|title=Delhi assembly panel wants Facebook named co-accused in communal riots, hints at 'conspiracy'|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/delhi-assembly-panel-wants-facebook-named-co-accused-in-communal-riots-hints-at-conspiracy/492793/|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 12, 2020, a Delhi Assembly committee said in a statement that it had asked Facebook India head Ajit Mohan to appear before it on September 15, leading to Facebook objecting and moving the [[Supreme Court of India]] against the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 12, 2020|title=Delhi city lawmakers summon Facebook India chief over February riots|language=en|work=[[Reuters]]|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-facebook-idUSKBN2630N6|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 23, 2020|title=Facebook India moves supreme court against Delhi assembly panel summons|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-india-moves-supreme-court-against-delhi-assembly-panel-summons/story-exrgUJRGksKVLeDlUsoMWL.html|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> On September 15, Facebook skipped the Delhi Assembly panel hearing.<ref>{{cite web|title=Facebook Skips Delhi Assembly Panel Hearing, "Insulting," Fume Members|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/facebook-to-be-issued-final-warning-by-delhi-assembly-panel-after-executives-skip-hearing-2295583|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> On September 20, the Delhi Assembly panel issued a new notice asking Facebook to appear before it on September 23.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 20, 2020|title=Delhi Assembly panel issues fresh notice of appearance to Facebook India VP|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-assembly-panel-issues-fresh-notice-of-appearance-to-facebook-india-vp-6603758/|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> On September 22, Facebook India vice-president and managing director Ajit Mohan moved the Supreme Court against the summons of the Delhi Assembly Committee.<ref>{{cite web|date=September 22, 2020|title=Facebook India VP moves Supreme Court against Delhi Assembly panel summoning him|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/fb-india-vp-moves-supreme-court-against-delhi-assembly-panel-summoning-him-11600785870396.html|access-date=July 5, 2021|website=mint|language=en}}</ref> On September 23, the Supreme Court granted him relief and ordered a stay to the summons, with the Central government later backing the decision.<ref>{{Cite news|date=September 23, 2020|title=Delhi riots {{!}} Supreme Court grants relief to Facebook official|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-riots-no-coercive-action-against-facebook-vp-till-oct-15-over-assembly-panel-summons-says-sc/article32677366.ece|access-date=July 5, 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=September 23, 2020|title=SC orders stay on summons to Facebook India VβP by Delhi Assembly panel on riots|work=ThePrint|url=https://theprint.in/judiciary/sc-orders-stay-on-summons-to-facebook-india-v-p-by-delhi-assembly-panel-on-riots/509050/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Centre backs Facebook in SC row with Delhi Assembly over summons|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/centre-backs-facebook-in-sc-row-with-delhi-assembly-over-summons/articleshow/78684769.cms|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> A former Facebook employee told a Delhi Assembly panel on November 13 that the violence could have been 'easily averted' if the social media giant had acted in a 'proactive and prompt manner'.<ref>{{Cite news|date=November 13, 2020|title=Delhi riots could have been averted if firm had acted: Ex-Facebook employee|work=Business Standard|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/delhi-riots-could-have-been-averted-if-firm-had-acted-ex-facebook-employee-120111300137_1.html|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> On December 3, the Delhi Assembly moved the Supreme Court for intervention in the case.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Delhi Assembly peace panel moves SC for intervention in Facebook VP Ajit Mohan's case|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/delhi-assembly-peace-panel-moves-sc-for-intervention-in-facebook-vp-ajit-mohans-case/articleshow/79550742.cms|access-date=July 9, 2021}}</ref> On February 4, 2021, the Delhi Assembly panel issued a fresh notice to Facebook India to testify on the riots, avoiding specific notice to Mohan, by asking a senior, responsible officer from the company to appear before the panel.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 5, 2021|title=Facebook gets new notice to appear before Delhi Assembly committee probing riots|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-gets-new-notice-to-appear-before-delhi-assembly-committee-probing-riots-101612468672035.html|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> The Union government submitted in the Supreme Court that Facebook could not be made accountable before any state assembly and the committee formed was unconstitutional.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 18, 2021|title='Facebook, Twitter can't be accountable to state assemblies': Centre to SC|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/facebook-twitter-can-t-be-accountable-to-state-assemblies-government-101613610284320.html|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=[Delhi Riots] Committee formed by Delhi Assembly to probe social media giants' omissions unconstitutional: Centre, Facebook tell Supreme Court|url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/peace-harmony-committee-constituted-delhi-state-assembly-probe-delhi-riots-unconstitutional-centre-facebook-supreme-court|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=Bar and Bench β Indian Legal news|date=February 2, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On February 24, Mohan challenged summons issued by the Delhi assembly for failing to appear before it as a witness in connection with the 2020 riots in the Supreme Court, saying that the 'right to silence' is a virtue in present 'noisy times' and the legislature had no authority to examine him in a law and order case. The Supreme Court reserved its judgment for the case.<ref>{{cite web|title="Expansion Of Power Through Backdoor": Facebook Boss On Delhi Summons|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/facebook-md-ajit-mohan-to-supreme-court-right-to-silence-is-virtue-in-noisy-times-2377893|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=NDTV.com}}</ref> On July 8, the Supreme Court refused to quash the summons and asked Facebook asked to appear before the Delhi assembly panel.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 8, 2021|title=Facebook asked to appear before Delhi assembly panel, Supreme Court refuses to quash summons|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-riots-sc-rejects-facebook-india-vp-ajit-mohan-plea-summons-assembly-committee-7395029/|access-date=July 9, 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> On September 23, 2023, it was reported that Facebook had delayed for about a year when in 2021, it removed a network of accounts ran by India's [[Chinar Corps]] which spread disinformation that would put Kashmiri journalists in danger. The delay and the previously not publicized takedown action were due a fear that its local employees would be targeted by authorities, and that it would hurt business prospects in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Menn |first1=Joseph |last2=Shih |first2=Gerry |date=September 26, 2023 |title=Under India's pressure, Facebook let propaganda and hate speech thrive |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/09/26/india-facebook-propaganda-hate-speech/ |url-access=registration}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! 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