Facebook shuts down political influence campaign targeting 2018 midterms

Between March 2017 and May 2018, Instagram removed accounts for violating rules on coordinated, inauthentic behavior. These operatives posted 9,500 times on Facebook, attracting 290,000 followers. From April 2017 to June this year, they ran 150 ads worth $11,000 and created 30 events, engaging 4,700 accounts. A fake page even coordinated with legitimate pages for a counter-protest event, and those admins were notified.

Why were Instagram accounts removed between March 2017 and May 2018?

• For posting inappropriate content

• Because of a data breach

• For violating a ban on coordinated, inauthentic behavior

• Due to inactivity

How many posts did the operatives make on Facebook?

• 12000

• 9500

• 7500

• 5000

What was the total worth of the ads run by the accounts?

• 5,000 USD

• 11,000 USD

• 15,000 USD

• 20,000 USD

How many events did the operatives create?

• 40

• 20

• 10

• 30

What was unique about one of the bogus pages?

• It was the most followed page

• It coordinated with legitimate pages for a counter-protest

• It was the first page to be removed

• It had the highest number of posts