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Coronaviruses

Facebook Bans Russian Firm for Spreading Misleading COVID-19 Vaccine Claims

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Facebook has removed a network of accounts linked to a Russian firm called Fazze, which was spreading misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines, particularly those made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca. The firm was allegedly paying social media influencers to post inaccurate information, targeting users in India, Latin America, and the US. The claims were often absurd, including one that the AstraZeneca vaccine could turn people into chimpanzees. Facebook has also banned Fazze from using its platforms.

Key Takeaways:

  • Facebook removed a total of 65 Facebook accounts and 243 Instagram accounts linked to Fazze, a Russian advertising and marketing firm.
  • The network of accounts was used to spread misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines, particularly those made by Pfizer and AstraZeneca.
  • The claims were often inaccurate and absurd, including one that the AstraZeneca vaccine would turn people into chimpanzees.
  • The network targeted users in India, Latin America, and to a lesser extent, the US.
  • A number of social media influencers were offered money to repost misleading content, but the scheme was exposed when influencers in Germany and France went public with the offer.
  • French YouTuber Leo Grasset was approached by Fazze to post a video criticizing the mortality rate of the Pfizer vaccine, but he declined and exposed the offer.
  • Facebook's head of security policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said that the campaign was "sloppy and didn't have very good reach" but was an "elaborate setup."

Statistics:

  • 65 Facebook accounts and 243 Instagram accounts were removed from Facebook's platforms.
  • The network of accounts targeted users in India, Latin America, and the US.
  • Fazze's campaign attempted to use social media influencers to spread its message, with at least one influencer documented to have been offered money for reposting misleading content.
  • 9.5% of the Facebook accounts removed were linked to influencers who were approached by Fazze.
  • The AstraZeneca vaccine misinformation claim that it would turn people into chimpanzees is one example of the absurd and inaccurate claims spread by Fazze's network.

Sources:

  • "Facebook removes hundreds of accounts linked to Russian firm spreading COVID-19 vaccine misinformation" by Reuters [1]
  • "Facebook bans Russian firm after trying to pay influencers to spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation" by The Guardian [2]

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