Meta Remove Fake Accounts In Moldova Ahead Of The Presidential Election

JAKARTA - On October 11, 2024, Meta Platforms announced it had removed a network of fake accounts targeting Russian speakers in Moldova ahead of the presidential election to be held on October 20. These accounts violate Meta's policies regarding coordinated authentic behavior.

Moldovan authorities have also blocked dozens of Telegram channels and bots used to pay voters to vote "no" in the European Union membership referendum held in conjunction with the presidential election.

Pro-European president Maia Sandu, who is running for a second term, proposed a referendum as the core of his policy to join the 27-member bloc.

Counterfeit accounts on Meta spread criticism of Sandu, a pro-EU politician, and Moldova's close ties with Romania, while supporting pro-Russian parties in Moldova.

Meta revealed that this operation involved a number of fictitious Russian-language news brands pretending to be independent entities on various internet platforms, including Meta's Facebook and Instagram, as well as Telegram, OK.ru, and TikTok.

Meta removed seven Facebook accounts, 23 pages, one group, and 20 Instagram accounts related to this network. A total of 4,200 accounts follow one or more than 23 pages on Facebook, while about 335,000 accounts follow one or more Instagram accounts involved.

In Chisinau, the Moldova National Investigation Inspectorate blocked 15 Telegram channels and 95 bots offering money to voters. Moldovan police have investigated the group's efforts related to Ilan Shor, a fugitive businessman, who is suspected of trying to pay tens of thousands of voters to thwart the vote.

Shor was previously sentenced to 15 years in prison in absentia for his involvement in the loss of US$1 billion (Rp15.5 trillion) from Moldovan banks in 2014.