META has deleted 23 Facebook pages and 20 Instagram accounts in Moldova. These accounts violated Meta’s policy on fake accounts. They post criticisms of Moldova’s pro-Western President Maia Sandu, promote pro-Russia parties, and criticize pro-EU politicians and Moldova’s relationship with Romania.
Facebook also deleted a group. The targeted accounts were mostly from the left bank of the Dniester and targeted Russian-speaking audiences.
The people behind the activity used fake accounts posing as independent news publications. They directed followers to other platforms, including Telegram channels. The administrators of some pages changed their names several times and used profile photos created through image-generation systems.
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“They posted original content, including cartoons, about news and geopolitical events related to Moldova. They included criticism of President Sandu, pro-EU politicians, and Moldova’s close ties with Romania. They also published comments in pro-Russian parties in Moldova support, including a small section that referred to the fugitive oligarch Shor and his party. They have also promised to offer money and gifts, including food and concert tickets if people in Moldova follow them on social media or would graffiti their names,” the META statement said.
The platform also found connections between the activity of these fake accounts and similar pages in regions of Ukraine annexed by Russia. Meta had previously removed these related accounts in 2020 for similar violations.