Russian operatives used Facebook ads to exploit America’s racial and religious divisions

Washington Post ^ | 9/25/2017 | Adam Entous, Craig Timberg and Elizabeth Dwoskin

[RightGeek]

The batch of more than 3,000 Russian-bought ads that Facebook is preparing to turn over to Congress shows a deep understanding of social divides in American society, with some ads promoting African American rights groups, including Black Lives Matter, and others suggesting that these same groups pose a rising political threat, say people familiar with the covert influence campaign.

The Russian campaign — taking advantage of Facebook’s ability to send contrary messages to different groups of users based on their political and demographic characteristics — also sought to sow discord among religious groups. Other ads highlighted support for Democrat Hillary Clinton among Muslim women.

These targeted messages, along with others that have surfaced in recent days, highlight the sophistication of an influence campaign slickly crafted to mimic and infiltrate U.S. political discourse while also seeking to heighten tensions between groups already wary of one another.

[SNIP]

[RightGeek]

The rest of the article tries to spin the ads as somehow helping Trump without any evidence. As for Robert Mueller - his operation leaks like a sieve to the MSM, but notice that they aren't actually showing any of the ads which sound like a real snoozer.

[PGR88]

So Russia and Obama were in league with each other?

[enduserindy]

Did they confuse Russia and the liberal media?

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

What a fine narrative. Activism and rabble rousing performed by the likes of 0bama and Occupy Wall St is righteous, virtuous, calls attention to the racial inequities, and is a continuous Rosa Parks moment worthy of the highest praise. Performed by the Russians, it is a vile assault on our democracy that leftists love with all their patriotic passion. Yeah, I think I get it.

[eyeamok]

with some ads promoting African American rights groups, including Black Lives Matter, and others suggesting that these same groups pose a rising political threat, say people familiar with the covert influence campaign.

So now they admit the Russians were trying to Help Hillary, Collusion??

[Regulator]

his operation leaks like a sieve to the MSM

Because he's a Clinton operative running a smear campaign with his gang of character assassin Democrat party "attorneys".

It's really obvious now that Mueller sold his butt to Obama and Clinton to keep his job back in 2008.

[cymbeline]

“aren’t actually showing any of the ads”

That says it all!

[TexasGator]

[dfwgator]

"Aaaahm down wit the shtruggle!"

[IWontSubmit]

Washington.Compost link alert!

[Seruzawa]

So the Russians are Democrats then.

[Robert357]

If Zuckerburg had been a Republican donor, there would be calls for his imprisonment for treason.

Because he is a Democrat, he has his folks cherry picking things to give to the Congressional Committee.

When the dust settles, Hillary has lost, Trump did nothing illegal. Russia did unethical things, but probably nothing illegal.

[I want the USA back]

So Russia, bammy and farcebook got together to destroy this country?

[utahb52]

Since the first accusations appeared, I’ve thought the Russians would have been more likely to help Hillary Clinton as she would have been very unlikely to do anything meaningful against them beyond a little token rhetoric. Looks to me like that’s what they thought too. Fortunately, they knew much less about the American voting public than they thought.

[nicollo]

Thank you for the article summary. I refuse to read ComPost articles but with your help I’m aware of the damage. Tks!