Meta’s latest round of account takedowns revealed a fake political group that operated multiple dummy accounts to recruit Americans to run for office. The detailed scheme was outlined in the social network’s report on coordinated inauthentic behavior. The group, known as “Patriots Run Project,” aimed to challenge Republican and Democratic elites by encouraging individuals to run for office. Meta uncovered 124 fake Facebook accounts, pages, groups, and three Instagram accounts associated with this scheme, which primarily targeted people in several key states and spent $50,000 on Facebook ads. The group’s activity was previously highlighted by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, linking them to a pro-Trump, anti-establishment platform. Despite Meta disrupting their efforts, reports indicate that the group successfully recruited a candidate for Congress. Looking ahead to the US presidential election, Meta’s researchers anticipate Russian-based groups targeting US audiences on Facebook, focusing on election-related debates and support for Ukraine.
