Facebook Deletes Fake Accounts that Mimic Russian Tactics Ahead of Election

By Robert McMillan and Deepa Seetharaman

Facebook Inc. said it deleted a new group of politically oriented accounts that were engaged in coordinated misinformation efforts ahead of the U.S. midterm elections that resemble Russian activities on the platform during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The social-media giant on Tuesday said it removed 32 pages and accounts from its main service and its Instagram photo-sharing app that were created between March 2017 and May of this year. The pages and accounts -- which include names such as "Aztlan Warriors," "Black Elevation," and "Resisters" -- collectively created more than 9,500 posts and were followed by more than 290,000 other Facebook accounts.

More to follow

Write to Robert McMillan at Robert.Mcmillan@wsj.com and Deepa Seetharaman at Deepa.Seetharaman@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 31, 2018 13:24 ET (17:24 GMT)

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