Facebook suspends fake Russian accounts, warns of U.S. election hack-and-leak threat

[TomCADem]

Source: MSN

LONDON (Reuters) - Facebook Inc on Thursday said it had dismantled three networks of fake accounts which could be used by Russia's intelligence services to leak hacked documents as part of efforts to disrupt the upcoming U.S. election. The company said the accounts, which it suspended for using fake identities and other types of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour", were linked to Russian intelligence and people associated with a St Petersburg-based organisation accused by U.S. officials of working to sway the 2016 presidential vote.

Russia has repeatedly denied allegations of election meddling and says it does not interfere in the domestic politics of other countries.

Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, said there was no immediate evidence that hacked documents were about to be leaked, but by suspending the accounts Facebook hoped to prevent them being used in any subsequent operation.

"Our team watches for the threats and trends that we need to be ready for and one that we are very aware of ... is a hack-and-leak operation, particularly in the next 6-8 weeks," he told Reuters.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/facebook-suspends-fake-russian-accounts-warns-of-us-election-hack-and-leak-threat/ar-BB19omTY?li=BBnb7Kz

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I guess Russia is trying to pick up the slack for Trump's campaign burning through money by doubling down on spreading QAnon conspiracies.

[FakeNoose]

1. It's more likely the Russians are creating the QAnon conspiracies

For all we know they're probably on DU too. I know for a fact they were/are all over the Yahoo boards. Anywhere they can post their shit freely and anonymously.

[TomCADem]

3. Putin's Troll Farm Busted Running Sprawling Network of Facebook Pages - Not Just QAnon

It is not just amplifying QAnon. As noted below, Russia also pays for and distribute left leaning content that is critical of Biden/Harris. On the right, Russia amplifies pro-Trump QAnon conspiracies. On the left, Russia attacks Biden/Harris.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/putins-troll-farm-busted-running-sprawling-network-of-facebook-pages/ar-BB19on04?li=BBnb7Kz

Facebook booted three troll networks linked to Russian intelligence and the St. Petersburg-based troll farm involved in meddling in the 2016 election.

* * *

Thursday’s move follows a similar announcement from Facebook in August when it suspended another Russian-linked disinformation effort after a tip from the FBI. Law enforcement told the social media company that PeaceData, a news site which held itself out as a Romania-based publication focused on anti-corruption and human rights, was a Russian intelligence front. A subsequent Facebook investigation found that the company was linked to the Internet Research Agency, the St. Petersburg-based troll farm responsible for much of Russia’s 2016 election meddling.

Much like the networks suspended on Thursday, PeaceData relied on unwitting Western journalists in order to amplify their content. Trolls posing as PeaceData editors pitched left-leaning freelancers and encouraged them to re-publish content written for the site at other, more established outlets in an apparent bid to increase their name recognition and legitimacy.

According to a Washington Post report, the CIA has concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “probably directing” an influence campaign to damage Vice President Joe Biden’s chances in the 2020 election. Earlier this month, the Treasury Department sanctioned Ukrainain member of parliament Andrii Derkach, who has been providing dirt on Biden’s son Hunter to a Republican-led Senate investigation, for “attempting to influence the U.S. electoral process.”

[PSPS]

11. You got it.

[napi21]

2. THANK YOU Facebook! I think most Dems are capable of determining which FB posts are fake &

pushing garbage, but lots of FB users might not be able to. WE as users can't do anything but point them out, but FB taking them down is the best answer by far. Really glad you're monitoring!!!

[TomCADem]

4. Daily Beast - She Was Tricked by Russian Trolls--and It Derailed Her Life

It is interesting how Russia tries to recruit and exploit left leaning writers to publish content that can be used to attack Democrats. For example, here a liberal writer was being pushed by a Russian editor to attack mask mandates as elitist:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/she-was-tricked-by-russian-trollsand-it-derailed-her-life

He pitched Chan on writing for Peace Data at a rate of $100 an article. The site was a “heavily liberal left” publication that was previously focused on the Middle East and was expanding its focus to broad international coverage. “We try to be independent of any government and speak against their misdeeds around the world,” he wrote.

* * *

When it came to stories, Ionatan had ideas for one of Chan’s first pieces. He pitched her on a story that centered on “criticism of military spending in the US, with commentary how none of the spending is benefiting people especially minorities.”

After she pitched a story about the importance of late congressman and civil rights legend John Lewis, “Ionatan” tried to nudge her towards a different kind of “civil liberties” subject altogether. He raised the issue of mask mandates in the United States.

“There shouldn't be a mandate to wear a mask, people themselves should do it after realising themselves that they're responsible,” he wrote. “It is using your own freedom to chose to limit yourself. Right now I see the result of system where elites are exploiting the populace for their own benefit.”

[Maven]

8. You overestimate the ability of most people (even Dems) to resist targeted disinformation

It's natural for people to think that they have greater "bullshit detectors" than they actually do. Because to think otherwise would be to admit that we are psychologically vulnerable, which no one wants to do.

The truth is that human brains (even smart ones) are susceptible to manipulation if they are fed enough false information that appeals to their emotions -- especially fear and anger.

This is why Facebook is so dangerous. It has created alternative realities for each of its users, which only they see, and which feeds them a steady stream of information (much of it false) to keep them engaged. Companies and political campaigns can then pay to manipulate that feed based on each user's personality profile to influence their behavior.

Facebook is social engineering for profit.

[napi21]

10. I KNEW there was a good reason I only go to very specific fB pages. I know the people, most are

family. I realize I'm in the minority, but I like it that way.

[movingviolation]

5. Check out Agents of Chaos pt1 & 2 on HBO

I watched it last night, both movies = 4 hrs. Goes into detail of the st petersburg operation. I suspect this type of psyop attack is behind dividing parties against parties, as well as inter party friction as well. Probably responsible for neo nazi and far right movements all over the world, probably pose as antifa as well. whatever makes a mess. Make your enemies destroy each other and themselves.

[truthisfreedom]

6. I've been blocking suspicious accounts all year and haven't accepted any new friends on FB

for months. I won't be accepting any new friends until well after the election.

[C Moon]

7. Oh THAT is a good one, Zuckerberg!!

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Fakebook ejects fakers