Social media company Facebook Inc. said on Tuesday (Sept. 22) that it removed a network of fake accounts originating in China that interfered in Asian and U.S. politics, including posting messages for and against U.S. President Donald Trump. Facebook described these as “coordinated counterfeits on behalf of a foreign country or government.
Nathaniel Gleicher, Facebook’s head of security policy, announced the removal of 155 Facebook accounts, 11 pages, nine groups, and six Instagram accounts on Facebook’s website. He said in a statement that the “coordinated counterfeiting on behalf of a foreign government” originated in China, focusing primarily on the Philippines and Southeast Asia, but also on the United States.
The accounts and pages with the most followers are located in the Philippines, and the content posted in Chinese, Filipino and English comment on global politics and current events, including support for China’s actions on issues such as the South China Sea and Hong Kong, as well as support for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Facebook said the fake accounts, which were based in the U.S., had few followers and posted content that provoked opposing sides in the U.S. election rather than lopsidedly supporting one side or the other.
Greche said this is the first time the company has blocked China-based accounts involved in U.S. politics on the grounds of foreign intervention.
Facebook did not specify whether the Chinese government was behind the fake accounts, but said they originated in Fujian province. In a Facebook statement, Greche said, “While the individuals behind this activity have attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation has uncovered links to a number of individuals in China’s Fujian province.”
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