Facebook has reported taking down a network of Russian-backed accounts that have been spreading misinformation about the war in Ukraine. The network ran several websites posing as independent news outlets, including fake personas across multiple social media platforms.
"In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, our teams have been on high alert to identify emerging threats and respond as quickly as we can,” wrote Facebook. "In the last 48 hours, we uncovered a relatively small network of about 40 accounts, Pages, and Groups on Facebook and Instagram. They were operated from Russia and Ukraine and targeted people in Ukraine across multiple social media platforms and through their own websites."
To take down the operation, Facebook banned associated accounts and blocked the domains of the websites the network used to share misinformation. Facebook also gave information regarding the network to government authorities and researchers. Fewer than 4000 Facebook accounts were connected with the network, and many of the stories published were actively trying to demoralize Ukrainians by saying “the West betraying Ukraine and Ukraine being a failed state.”
Russia invaded Ukraine last week in an unprovoked attack involving land, sea, and air forces. Most major Ukrainian urban centers have endured shelling and airstrikes resulting in many hundreds of civilian casualties and many hundreds more injured.
In addition to the fake news network, Facebook also reported strengthening accounts against a hacker known only as “Ghostwriter” who tries to take over the social media accounts of Ukraine government and military officials in order to post disinformation. Facebook has taken steps to “secure accounts that we believe were targeted by this threat actor and, when we can, alert the users that they had been targeted.”
Although Facebook’s actions in support of the Ukrainian peoples are praiseworthy, critics note that tackling misinformation is a global issue not limited to the Ukraine conflict and is something that Facebook continues to struggle with to this very day.
Game developers all over the world are coming to Ukraine’s aid in charity drives and donations, while esports organization Team Liquid is offering shelter to any Ukrainian players unable to return home due to the conflict.
For more information on the conflict, and for ways in which you can help the people of Ukraine, you can view the resources put together here.