Facebook blocks 115 accounts before US midterm elections. Image Courtesy – The Verge
Facebook has taken stringent action on several of its and Instagram accounts that have been spreading fake, tampered news about the midterm election in the US.
They confirmed recently that it blocked around 30 of those social media accounts and also blocked 85 Instagram accounts for engaging with fake information and activities. They described these activities like: some people or organisations purposely created profiles to mislead others. In some cases, some people use to create ‘fake profiles’ in disguise of others to communicate messages of a secret mission between them, which forced Facebook to make a central hub called ‘war room’ inside its organisation.
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Most of the pages corresponding to fake Facebook accounts were in ‘French’ or ‘Russian’ languages; on the other hand, Instagram accounts were in ‘English’. Those accounts were mostly dealing with celebrities and political issues.
The administration said that they would take necessary steps very quickly in the vicinity of the US elections before declaring a public notice.
Nathaniel Gleicher, Head of Cyber Security Policy, Facebook, said that they would update the post after getting detailed information about those accounts. In a recent action in October 2018, it removed 82 Groups, Pages, and Accounts that were active in ‘inauthentic behaviour’ and linked with Iran.
What Midterm Elections are For
The primary focus of the midterm elections is on electing members of the U.S. Congress, but they also include many state and local races.
Federal Elections
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U.S. House of Representatives: All 435 seats in the House are up for election. Representatives serve two-year terms.
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U.S. Senate: Approximately one-third of the 100 Senate seats are up for election. Senators serve six-year, staggered terms.
State and Local Elections
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Governors: 36 states and three territories hold gubernatorial elections during the midterms.
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Other Offices: Many state and local offices are also on the ballot, including state attorneys general, secretaries of state, state legislators, mayors, and various ballot measures.
Significance
Midterm elections are often viewed as a referendum on the sitting President’s performance and the direction of the country. The results can significantly shift the balance of power in Congress, which in turn affects the President’s ability to pass legislation and pursue their agenda for the remainder of their term.
