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San Francisco. Shortly before the start of the US congressional elections, Facebook has blocked 115 accounts of users suspected of political interference from Russia. The largest Internet network in the world announced Tuesday that it received a notice Sunday from US law enforcement. This is suspicious behavior towards a foreign organization. The company is currently checking whether the accounts are in contact with the Russian Internet Search Agency or with any other entity. The US government has accused the Internet Research Agency of intervening in national policies regarding the use of internet platforms to spread misinformation.
Facebook's management talked about 85 suspicious accounts in English of the group's own photo service, Instagram. In addition, there would be 30 Facebook accounts linked to websites in French and Russian. Some of the accounts have been devoted to celebrities, others to political debates.
Internet platform operators have pledged to be more vigilant against electoral interference after being inadequately prepared for such attempts in the US presidential election two years ago. The current congressional elections are very important for former election winner Donald Trump. According to polls, Trump's Republicans may lose a majority in the House of Representatives. The president should then expect considerable resistance from Democrats in Congress.
Security agencies warn against manipulation
Before the opening of polling stations in the United States, security officials issued a joint appeal against manipulation by the misinformation of Russia.
US voters should be aware that "foreign players – especially Russia – are trying to influence public opinion and voter perceptions," the statement said Monday (local time). To counter this threat, US voters must "stay informed and report suspicious activity."
The call was signed by Dan Coats, Director of Intelligence Services, Christopher Wray, FBI Chief, Kirstjen Nielsen, Minister of Homeland Security, and Jeff Sessions, Minister of Justice.
They warned that foreign actors in the United States wanted to "sow discord". "They do this by spreading false information about political processes and candidates, lying about their own attempts at manipulation, propagating propaganda on social networks and other tactics."
Security chiefs also said that there was no indication of any concrete intervention in the conduct of Tuesday's congressional and governorship elections – for example, by preventing the vote, counting or modifying the result of the vote.
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