Facebook last week released its monthly Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior Report for October 2020, sharing details about 14 networks of accounts, pages and groups that were removed from its platform and Instagram last month.
The company removed a total of 1,196 Facebook accounts, 994 Instagram accounts, 7,947 Facebook pages and 110 Facebook groups in October. Details on each network follow:
- Iran: 12 accounts, two pages and 307 Instagram accounts linked to individuals associated with Tehran-based information technology company EITRC were removed for activity originating in Iran and targeting Iraq and Israel, primarily the latter.
- Iran and Afghanistan: 33 accounts, 11 pages, six groups and 47 Instagram accounts operated by individuals in Iran and Afghanistan were removed for targeting Farsi/Dari-speaking audiences primarily in Afghanistan.
- Egypt, Turkey and Morocco: 31 accounts, 25 pages and two Instagram accounts operated by individuals in these countries associated with the Muslim Brotherhood were removed for targeting Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia and Yemen.
- Georgia: 50 accounts, 49 pages, four groups, eight events and 19 Instagram accounts linked to domestic media entity Alt-Info were removed for targeting audiences in the country, and Alt-Info is now banned from Facebook.
- Georgia: 54 accounts, 14 pages, two groups and 21 Instagram accounts tied to two political parties in the country—Alliance of Patriots and Georgian Choice—were removed for targeting domestic audiences.
- Myanmar: 36 accounts, six pages, two groups and one Instagram account linked to public-relations agency Openmind for activity originating in Myanmar and targeting domestic audiences.
- Ukraine: 46 accounts, 44 pages, one group and three Instagram accounts linked to domestic PR outfit MAS Agency and individuals associated with the campaign of former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and the Batkivshchyna political party for targeting domestic audiences.
- Mexico and Venezuela: Two pages and 22 Instagram accounts primarily targeting the U.S.
- Iran: 12 accounts, six pages and 11 Instagram accounts linked to individuals associated with the Iranian government and focused primarily on the U.S. and Israel.
- Myanmar: 10 accounts, eight pages, two groups and two Instagram accounts focused on domestic audiences.
- U.S.: 202 accounts, 54 pages and 76 Instagram accounts linked to domestic marketing firm Rally Forge, which is now banned from Facebook, on behalf of Turning Point USA and Inclusive Conservation Group. Activity was primarily focused on the U.S., with some on Kenya and Botswana, as well.
- Myanmar: 38 accounts, 15 pages and six Instagram accounts linked to members of the country’s military and targeting domestic audiences.
- Azerbaijan: 589 accounts, 7,665 pages and 437 Instagram accounts Instagram linked to the Youth Union of New Azerbaijani Party and focused on domestic audiences.
- Nigeria: 78 accounts, 45 pages, 93 groups and 46 Instagram accounts linked to the Islamic Movement and focused on domestic audiences.