Facebook removes fake accounts from Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, Honduras

[snoop1130]

Facebook removes fake accounts from Thailand, Russia, Ukraine, Honduras

By Patpicha Tanakasempipat

 

FILE PHOTO: Logo of Facebook is seen at the high profile startups and high tech leaders gathering, Viva Tech,in Paris, France May 16, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Facebook Inc (FB.O) said on Thursday it had erased over 1,800 accounts and pages from Thailand, Russia, Ukraine and Honduras, its latest move to counter deceptive political propaganda and other abuses of its service.

 

Across the four countries, a total of 294 accounts, 1,509 pages and 32 groups were taken down for what the company calls “coordinated inauthentic behavior.”

 

They had a collective following of more than 274,000.

 

The company has been cracking down on such accounts globally after coming under fire from governments and rights groups around the world for not developing tools quickly enough to combat extremist content and propaganda operations.

 

“We don’t see a connection between them, but they all were using networks of fake accounts to mislead people about who they were and what they were doing,” Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cybersecurity Policy, told Reuters in a phone briefing.

 

Facebook took action based on deceptive behavior and not the nature of the content posted, Gleicher said.

 

The accounts removed in Thailand used “fictitious personas” to promote narratives about Thai politics, U.S.-China relations, protests in Hong Kong, and criticism of democracy activists in Thailand, Gleicher said.

 

“We were able to determine conclusively that some of the activities of this network was linked to an individual based in Thailand associated with New Eastern Outlook, a Russian government-funded journal based in Moscow,” Gleicher said.

 

Accounts and pages from Russia and a region of Ukraine that discussed Ukrainian politics and criticized the Ukrainian government, using fake accounts impersonating journalists or military officers, were taken down ahead of an election in Ukraine last week.

 

In Honduras, Facebook said it removed fake accounts and pages posting positive content about the country’s president, adding that some of the activities were linked to people who run social media for the government of Honduras.

 

Facebook said it has been increasing the pace of its investigation into fake accounts and coordinated inauthentic behavior.

 

Facebook said it has conducted almost three dozen takedowns so far globally in 2019, well more than about two dozens in the whole of 2018.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-07-25

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[Geoffggi]

They should close all accounts....

[Tug]

Why am I not surprised I think we have some here on tv imo

[alex8912]

26 minutes ago, Geoffggi said:

They should close all accounts....

Ha ha what would 90% of Thais do without FB?? Could you imagine?

[zydeco]

Hmmm.  Traubert still around?

[rooster59]

Facebook shuts Thai accounts for ‘inauthentic behaviour’

By THE NATION

 

 

Thailand has been named as one of four countries where accounts have been removed for what it calls “coordinated inauthentic behaviour”.

 

The social media giant revealed on Thursday that it had removed several pages, groups and accounts on Facebook and Instagram and found that these organisations were located in Thailand, Russia, Ukraine and Honduras.

 

Nathaniel Gleicher, head of the company’s cybersecurity department, said several companies had posted misleading information about their real identities and activities.

 

As a result, he said, 12 Facebook accounts and 10 Facebook pages had been removed “for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour” that was located in Thailand and primarily involved in cyberattacks on Thailand and the US. 

 

The attackers’ offending behaviour included sharing content and comments that dissented with the majority on such topics as Thai politics, US-China relations, protests in Hong Kong and criticism of democracy activists in Thailand. 

 

Facebook also found that some of these activities were linked to an individual based in Thailand who is associated with New Eastern Outlook, a Russian government-funded journal based in Moscow.

The US-based company has recently launched a crackdown after being criticised for not acting quickly enough to combat the posting of extremist content and propaganda.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30373754

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand  2019-07-27

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[bluesofa]

22 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Ha ha what would 90% of Thais do without FB?? Could you imagine?

Back to Candy Crush or TV soap operas. Same-same, but different.

[kotsak]

 

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

On 7/26/2019 at 9:37 AM, alex8912 said:

Ha ha what would 90% of Thais do without FB?? Could you imagine?

Back to Candy Crush or TV soap operas. Same-same, but different.

 

Yes, anything else besides actually improving themselves..

[PremiumLane]

16 minutes ago, kotsak said:

 

 

Yes, anything else besides actually improving themselves..

like posting on TVF ???? and did you guys actually read the article?

[Chomper Higgot]

22 minutes ago, kotsak said:

 

 

Yes, anything else besides actually improving themselves..

You should take time to find out how many Thai people from all walks of life spend their evenings and weekends attending colleges and universities improving their education.

Very many after working long hours and six day weeks.

[Emdog]

But "inauthentic behavior" is the authentic cultural behavior here! Celebrate diversity and all that.

[PETERTHEEATER]

On 7/26/2019 at 9:37 AM, alex8912 said:

Ha ha what would 90% of Thais do without FB?? Could you imagine?

Raise the suicide rate?

[Hayduke]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Facebook shuts Thai accounts for ‘inauthentic behaviour’

 

So the entire Junta is now without Facebook?

 

 

[geoffbezoz]

1 minute ago, Hayduke said:

 

So the entire Junta is now without Facebook?

 

 

Nah, they just set up more accounts under false names

[Thingamabob]

Big brother now in place and running the country.

[faraday]

2 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Big brother now in place and running the country.

Hmm, well not really, but I can see your pov. However, what else can be done?

 

 

[Sydebolle]

"Line" is waiting in the wings ..........