Network of fake pro-Russia accounts, eliminated by Meta before the elections in the Republic of Moldova
Meta announced the elimination of a network of fake accounts and fictitious news pages, which aimed to influence public opinion in the Republic of Moldova, before the presidential elections and the referendum on October 20, 2024. The network was active on the Facebook and Instagram platforms, and used false identities.
According to Meta, the network was operated by people from Russia and the Republic of Moldova, with connections in the Transnistrian region. This was a clear example of "coordinated inauthentic behaviour" in violation of company policies. The pages involved pretended to be independent Russian-language news sources to confuse voters and influence the public's perception of the European Union.
Meta points out that networks of this type are constantly monitored to prevent interference in electoral processes and ensure a safer digital environment. The Moldovan authorities condemned Russia's actions, accusing it of interference in the country's internal affairs.
We remind you that U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent letters to Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Sundar Pichai (Alphabet/Google) on Thursday, October 10, asking them to allocate more resources to fight disinformation in the Republic of Moldova, in the context of the upcoming constitutional referendum on October 20.
