Facebook removed hundreds of coordinated attacks from fake accounts against foreign and domestic politics
Facebook announced it has removed two separate networks based in China and the Philippines for violating the policy against coordinated inauthentic behaviour (CIB). The network of accounts coordinately acted to mislead users about foreign and domestic politics. In total, the platform removed 155 accounts, 11 pages, 9 groups and 6 Instagram accounts originated in China, and 57 accounts, 31 pages and 20 Instagram accounts, from the Philippines for violating its policy against foreign government interference. The activity focused primarily on the Philippines, Southeast Asia more generally and the USA. In Southeast Asia, where the network focused most of their activity, they posted in Chinese, Filipino and English about sensitive subjects such as Beijing’s interests in the South China Sea, more specifically Hong Kong. In the USA, the network posted content in support of and against presidential candidates Pete Buttigieg, Joe Biden and Donald Trump.