Facebook has Sold Dubious Political Advertising to Russia
After months of discussions on Facebook's role in Russian intervention in the US presidential election in November 2016, the social network admitted selling Moscow's political advertising.
According to the company, $ 100,000 worth of advertising has been sold to questionable and unverified accounts that are probably ruled by Russia. A total of 470 accounts have released over 3000 ads. Other accounts with US IP, but in Russian, also purchased 2200 ads worth $ 50,000. After the social network check, it turned out that all of these accounts are "likely" violating the rights to use the site. Facebook does not specify whether the company will retain the money from them.
Advertisements were on controversial topics such as racial and gender relations, the right to possess weapons, and so on. Facebook made the confession to a congressional committee tasked with investigating Moscow's intervention in the run-up to the elections.
Mark Zuckerberg, in principle, denies that the social network can be used for political disinformation.
Inherent flaw in any automated system sadly. Nefarious people can manipulate it. :-/
Even more sad, users failed to do their own research and catch/report it. Instead they reshared over and over again.