Meta Platforms Incsaid on Friday it had removed a network of group accounts targeting Russian speakers in Moldova ahead of the country's Oct. 20 election for violating the company's policy on fake accounts.
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Moldova, with a population of about 2.5 million, is located between Romania and Ukraine and has a Romanian-speaking majority and a large Russian-speaking minority.
Its pro-Western president Maia Sandu is seeking a second term in presidential elections this month, when the country will also hold a referendum on joining the European Union.
The fake accounts criticized President Sandu, pro-EU politicians and the close ties between Moldova and Romania, and supported pro-Russian parties in Moldova, according to Meta.
The company said its operation focused on about a dozen virtual, Russian-language news brands that presented themselves as independent entities with a presence on multiple internet services, including Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, OK.ru and TikTok.
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Meta said it removed seven Facebook accounts, 23 pages, one group and 20 Instagram accounts for violating its policy, which is known as the “coordinated authentic behavior policy.”
About 4,200 accounts followed one or more of the 23 pages, and about 335,000 accounts followed one or more of the Instagram accounts in Moldova, Meta said.
The company also said that the majority of the fake accounts' followers were based outside Moldova, which made them appear more popular. The government has denounced persistent Russian interference in the country's affairs, while Moscow has accused Sandu and her team of fomenting "Russophobia."
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The rise of fake accounts on social media platforms , such as Meta, has become a significant challenge, particularly affecting the integrity of user interactions and the reliability of data. These virtual profiles are often created to manipulate online conversations, spread misinformation , or engage in fraudulent activities, putting both individuals and organizations at risk. Social media companies are constantly developing sophisticated algorithms and using AI-powered tools to identify and promptly remove such accounts. However, the battle against fake accounts is ongoing, as perpetrators are constantly improving their tactics to circumvent detection methods.
Source: Reuters
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