100 Facebook fake accounts linked to US President Donald Trump's ally removed

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook has removed over 100 fake accounts and pages that were posting misinformation with links to Roger Stone, a long-time Republican and trusted ally of US President Donald Trump. Facebook connected Stone's Facebook and Instagram accounts with a US-based network that also had ties to the far-right group called Proud Boys.

The Proud Boys was founded by Gavin McInnes, and members have attended right-wing extremist gatherings like the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville in 2017.

In total, Facebook removed 54 Facebook accounts, 50 Pages, and 4 Instagram accounts that were involved in coordinated inauthentic behaviour in the US.

"Several of these Pages had links to Proud Boys, a hate group we banned in 2018. Some Pages appeared to have acquired followers from Pakistan and Egypt to make themselves seem more popular than they were," Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Security Policy, said in a statement late Wednesday.

This network — which was also active on other internet platforms — was most active between 2015 and 2017 which was the time for US election. (IANS)

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