Washington: Hundreds of fake Facebook accounts, probably run from Russia, spent about $100,000 on ads aimed at stirring up divisive issues such as gun control and race relations during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. That's according to the social network.
Although the number of ads is relatively small, the disclosure provides a more detailed peek into what investigators believe was a targeted effort by Russians to influence U.S. politics during the campaign, this time through social media.
The 470 accounts appeared to come from a notorious "troll farm," a St. Petersburg-based organisation known for promoting pro-Russian government positions via fake accounts. That's according to two people familiar with the investigation.