Russia is once again meddling in the United States' federal election, Facebook says

The Washington Post wrote:Facebook on Monday said it removed a network of Russian-backed accounts that posed as locals weighing in on political issues in swing states, praising President Trump and attacking former vice president Joe Biden — illustrating that the familiar threat of Russian interference looms over the next U.S. presidential race.

Facebook said the network bears the hallmark of the same Kremlin-backed group that interfered in the 2016 election by sowing social discord, seeking to boost Trump and attacking Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The new disinformation campaign appears to follow the same playbook.

This time, a coordinated group of Russian accounts that appears to show some links to the Internet Research Agency largely took to Facebook’s photo-sharing app, Instagram, to post content this year about U.S. politics and memes targeting Democratic presidential contenders.

The operation demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the schisms within the Democratic Party as it labors to choose a nominee to face Trump in 2020. One Russian account, which portrayed itself as a black voter in Michigan, used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag to hammer Biden for gaffes about racial issues. Some of the accounts boosted one of his rivals on the left, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Ben Reilly wrote:

The Washington Post wrote:Facebook on Monday said it removed a network of Russian-backed accounts that posed as locals weighing in on political issues in swing states, praising President Trump and attacking former vice president Joe Biden — illustrating that the familiar threat of Russian interference looms over the next U.S. presidential race.

Facebook said the network bears the hallmark of the same Kremlin-backed group that interfered in the 2016 election by sowing social discord, seeking to boost Trump and attacking Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The new disinformation campaign appears to follow the same playbook.

This time, a coordinated group of Russian accounts that appears to show some links to the Internet Research Agency largely took to Facebook’s photo-sharing app, Instagram, to post content this year about U.S. politics and memes targeting Democratic presidential contenders.

The operation demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the schisms within the Democratic Party as it labors to choose a nominee to face Trump in 2020. One Russian account, which portrayed itself as a black voter in Michigan, used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag to hammer Biden for gaffes about racial issues. Some of the accounts boosted one of his rivals on the left, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

nicko wrote:Red's under the beds ?

Maddog wrote:

nicko wrote:Red's under the beds ?

When folks fail, they often engage in 3 tactics.  Minimize, deny or blame.  

Ben Reilly wrote:

Maddog wrote:

When folks fail, they often engage in 3 tactics.  Minimize, deny or blame.  

What part of this is so hard to believe or understand?

Facebook has identified accounts originating in Russia that have been posing as American accounts and making divisive political posts, just like what happened in 2016.

Putin is counting on guys like you to minimize it or deny this fact -- or to blame the messenger

Ben Reilly wrote:
What part of this is so hard to believe or understand?

Facebook has identified accounts originating in Russia that have been posing as American accounts and making divisive political posts, just like what happened in 2016.

Putin is counting on guys like you to minimize it or deny this fact -- or to blame the messenger

Maddog wrote:

Ben Reilly wrote:

Maddog wrote:

When folks fail, they often engage in 3 tactics.  Minimize, deny or blame.  

What part of this is so hard to believe or understand?

Facebook has identified accounts originating in Russia that have been posing as American accounts and making divisive political posts, just like what happened in 2016.

Putin is counting on guys like you to minimize it or deny this fact -- or to blame the messenger

There's nothing hard to understand. I don't think Facebook posts from unknown individuals have that much effect.  

They are kinda like Lurkers thread.  Do you think that nonsense changes minds?

Maybe Lurker is a Putin asset too?

Ben Reilly wrote:

Maddog wrote:

There's nothing hard to understand. I don't think Facebook posts from unknown individuals have that much effect.  

They are kinda like Lurkers thread.  Do you think that nonsense changes minds?

Maybe Lurker is a Putin asset too?

I bet Facebook posts have some effect, otherwise I doubt Russia would spend so much time and energy on them.