'Russian influence campaign targeted left-wing voters in US & Britain': Facebook

Facebook on Tuesday said a Russian influence operation posed as an independent news outlet to target left-wing voters in United States and Britain. Russian ncy also recruited freelance journalists to write about domestic politics of two countries, Facebook ded.

Facebook Inc (FB.O) revealed that  operation centered around a pseudo media organisation called 'Peace Data', which partly focused on United states politics and racial tensions in upcoming vember 3 Presidential election. Russian website operated 13 Facebook accounts and two ps, which were set up in May and suspended on Monday for using fake identities and or forms of coordinated inauntic behaviour, Facebook said.

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During investigation Facebook found links to individuals associated with past activity by 'Russian Internet Research ncy'-a St Petersburg-based company which U.S. intelligence officials said was central to Russian efforts to sway 2016 presidential election.

Peace Data targets left-wing groups in US and Britain

'Graphika'- social media analytics firm investigated operation and said Peace Data predominately targeted progressive and left-wing groups in United States and Britain. russian ncy also posted about events in or countries including Algeria and Egypt.

Graphika furr said that  website pushed messs critical of right-wing voices and centre left, and in United States 'paid particular attention to racial and political tensions'. messd also included civil rights protests and criticism of President Donald Trump and his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.

investigating firm furr disclosed that only around 5 percent of Peace Data’s English-langu articles directly concerned U.S. election. And  main aspect of operation suggests an attempt to build a left-wing audience and steer it away from Biden’s campaign, Graphika ded.

United States Office of Director of National Intelligence referred questions to FBI. In a statement, FBI said it h flagged activity to Facebook. FBI provided information in this matter to better protect against threats to nation’s security and our democratic processes,  statement said.

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FBI provides information to Facebook

Facebook team immediately acted upon FBI's tip and suspended accounts before y gared a large online following, Facebook’s he of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher said. He furr said only 14,000 people followed one or more of suspended accounts.

Peace Data publishes in English and Arabic and claims on its website that it is a n-profit news organisation seeking truth about key world events. According to Graphika analysis, three permanent staff listed online are fake. y found profiles used are computer-generated photographs of n-existent people and were linked to fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and or sites.

staff at Peace Data shared articles that covered a wide range of political issues, in left-wing social media groups and website published over 700 articles in English and Arabic between February and August this year, Graphika said.

U.S has previously alleged that Russia tried to sway election campaigns however it denied allegation and maintained that it doesn't  interfere in domestic politics of or countries.

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