Facebook weeds out accounts with dodgy links in India and Pakistan
Social media company moves to ensure its platform is not abused for political gains or to spread misinformation
New Delhi/Islamabad — Facebook has removed 712 accounts and 390 pages in India and Pakistan because of “inauthentic behaviour” and spamming, it said on Monday, much of it linked to India’s main opposition Congress party days before elections and Pakistan’s military. Facebook has faced increasing pressure from authorities around the world to ensure its platform is not abused for political gains or to spread misinformation, especially ahead of elections. Among the most significant removals, Facebook said it took down 549 accounts and 138 pages linked to India’s Congress for “co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour”. Facebook said it had also banned some accounts linked to an Indian company “associated with” a mobile app promoted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In Pakistan, Facebook removed 57 accounts, 24 pages, seven groups and 15 Instagram accounts, also for inauthentic behaviour, as part of a network that originated in Pakistan and was linked to...
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