Facebook blocks 115 accounts for alleged 'inauthentic behavior' ahead of midterms



Since then, Facebook has pulled down hundreds of accounts including some tied to influence campaigns by Iran.



Facebook said late Monday it had blocked more than 100 Facebook and Instagram accounts suspected of engaging in "coordinated inauthentic behavior" ahead of the United States midterm elections.


Almost all of the blocked Facebook pages appeared to be written in French or Russian, although the Instagram accounts were mostly in English, the company said, noting that some of the Instagram accounts focused on celebrities and political debate.


The company said that they made the announcement despite being only in the initial stage of the investigation as the elections are only a day away and they want to inform their customers about the "action taken and the facts as we know them today".

Gleicher wrote that the accounts were immediately blocked after the company was notified Sunday evening of suspicious behavior and that the questionable accounts - potentially linked to foreign entities - are being investigated "in more detail".

Major online social platforms have been under intense pressure to avoid being used by "bad actors" out to sway outcomes by publishing misinformation and enraging voters.

Facebook also disclosed sophisticated attempts from Russian Federation to interfere with elections and promote political discord in the U.S.

It said it would provide an update once it knew more, including whether the accounts were linked to the Russia-based Internet Research Agency, widely recognised as a "troll factory" which ran fake ads on social media during the 2016 USA election.

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