Facebook and Twitter remove accounts of Russian troll farm recruiting ‘unwitting’ journalists to sow political discord in US

Social media sites Facebook and Twitter removed a small network of accounts and pages that were linked to a Russian “troll factory” that has reportedly used social media since 2016 to sow political discord in the US.

Facebook announced on Tuesday that it had taken down 13 accounts that it attributed to “individuals associated with past activity by the Russian Internet Research Agency,” following a tip from the FBI.

The people behind the accounts recruited “unwitting” freelance journalists from the US to write articles in both English and Arabic for left-leaning audiences that were hostile towards the Democratic Party, according to the Associated Press.

The Internet Research Agency, which US intelligence agencies have previously said interfered in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump, recruited journalists from the US to write articles and purchase political advertisements, without them knowing the purpose for them, according to NPR.

Facebook revealed that the network was in the early stages, but confirmed that the group, consisting of 13 accounts and two pages, had 14,000 followers on its Arabic language page.

However, its English language page only had 200 followers and had “nearly no engagement,” when it was taken down by the social media site.

The accounts were directing Facebook and Twitter users to a website called Peace Data, which describes itself as a “global news organisation” that focuses on the environment and corruption in politics, according to The Hill.

They reported that although real journalists were recruited and wrote for the site, several of the Facebook accounts that posed as the editors were not real people.

Twitter also announced on Tuesday that it had taken down five accounts that were a part of the network, and will continue to do so if any others are linked to Peace Data.

In a statement, Twitter wrote: “Regardless of the low-level impact in this case, governments around the world must stop these practices. They’re antidemocratic.

“Attempts to manipulate our service to undermine democracy — by both foreign and domestic actors — will be met with strict enforcement of our policies.”

Facebook said that the network posted about global events, including racial justice in the UK and US, president Donald Trump, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, and the QAnon conspiracy.

In total, the network spent $480 (£358) on political advertisements mainly using US dollars, evading Facebook’s systems that are supposed to prevent foreign groups from buying American political promotions.

In the build up to the 2016 US election and 2018 midterms, Russian’s tied to the Internet Research Agency were involved in disinformation campaigns on Facebook, according to the AP.

Graphika, a US analysis firm, that received the data before Facebook’s announcement, confirmed that the network’s small effort was similar to other attempts by the agency to undermine support for Democratic candidates.

US counterintelligence officials reported in August that Russia is using a variety of tactics to ”primarily denigrate” Mr Biden in the run up to November’s election, and Graphika reported that the network’s content was hostile towards the Democratic nominee and his running mate, Kamala Harris.

“The English-language content on Biden and Harris was noteworthy for its hostile tone,” the data firm wrote. “One article by a guest writer accused the pair of ‘submission to right-wing populism ... as much about preserving careers as it is winning votes.’”

Graphika reported that the network’s tactics were consistent “with the original [Internet Research Agency’s] attempt to depress support for then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton by infiltrating and influencing progressive audiences.”