Facebook Takes Down Fake Account Network in Kenya
(Facebook Removes Fake Accounts from Kenya)
MENLO PARK, Calif. Facebook removed over 100 fake accounts and pages linked to Kenya. This happened recently. The company found a network of accounts pretending to be Kenyan people. These accounts were actually run by a coordinated group. The group was based in Kenya.
Facebook said these accounts broke its rules against coordinated inauthentic behavior. This means people worked together to mislead others about who they were or what they were doing. The network focused on local news and politics. It posted about upcoming elections. It also posted about various political issues within Kenya. Some content supported specific political figures. Other content criticized opponents.
The fake accounts tried to look real. They used fake profile pictures. They also used stolen profile pictures. These accounts commented on posts by Kenyan media and public figures. They posted frequently. They tried to build an audience. The goal seemed to be influencing public opinion around politics. Facebook found links between this network and a commercial entity in Kenya. The entity works in marketing and public relations.
Facebook stopped this network before it became very popular. The main Facebook page had under 2,000 followers. The Instagram accounts had almost no followers. The network spent a small amount on ads. It spent less than $100 US Dollars total. Facebook found this activity through its own investigations. This network was not very large. Its impact was limited. But Facebook took action because it broke the rules.
(Facebook Removes Fake Accounts from Kenya)
The company is committed to stopping this kind of deceptive behavior. Facebook wants people to connect authentically. It sees this as important for election integrity. Facebook shared its findings with researchers and other companies. This helps others track similar threats. The company continues to monitor for similar activity. It will take down more networks if it finds them. Facebook invests in security to protect its platforms. This includes finding and stopping fake accounts.