Some of the Facebook ads released were designed to stir up tensions around divisive social issues. Photo / Supplied
Some of the Facebook ads released were designed to stir up tensions around divisive social issues. Photo / Supplied
US lawmakers yesterday released a batch of Russian-bought Facebook ads that showcased politically charged content allegedly spread on social media by Moscow ahead of last year's United States election.
Some of the ads criticised candidates, while others sought to organise or promote simultaneous rallies for opposite sides of divisive issues.
The sample posted on a House committee website is pulled from the roughly 3000 ads Facebook provided to congressional investigators last month.
Tech companies recently acknowledged that Russia-based content on US politics and social issues such as gun rights, immigration, religion and race had spread on their platforms before and after the election.
Some of the ads sampled specifically dealt with the US election and were critical of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. One from an account called "Army of Jesus" said Clinton was supported by evil forces.
"Hillary is a Satan, and her crimes and lies had proved just how evil she is," the post read. It added that Republican candidate Donald Trump was "an honest man" who "cares deeply for this country".
Other ads appeared to be aimed at setting up clashes over hot-button issues.
One ad from a group calling itself "Heart of Texas" promoted a rally in Houston on May 21, 2016 to "Stop Islamization" in the US state. Another ad from a separate Facebook page promoted a pro-Islam rally at the same time and venue.
The Russian Government has denied any attempts to sway last year's election, in which Trump defeated Clinton.
Trump had a friend in Jesus, according to this ad. Photo / Supplied
The ads were released at a US House Intelligence Committee hearing, where lawyers from Facebook, Twitter and Google testified about Russian influence on their networks.
It was the second straight day the companies tried to ward off criticism from lawmakers that they were slow to respond to Russian abuse.
Facebook, the world's largest social media network, again came under the most scrutiny from lawmakers, who expressed frustration with the company because of its role in targeted marketing.
Facebook general counsel Colin Stretch told the committee that 16 million Americans may have been exposed to Russian information on Facebook's picture-sharing service Instagram from October last year. The election was on November 8.
An additional four million may have seen such material on Instagram before October, though that data was less complete, Stretch said.
Another ad tried to draw attention to an anti-Clinton rally. Photo / Supplied
The Instagram figures were in addition to the 126 million Americans who may have seen Russian-backed political content on Facebook over a two-year period, a number the company disclosed earlier this week.
The companies' visit to Washington this week reflected shifting political fortunes for the US tech industry, which after decades of relatively little regulatory scrutiny is now on the defensive on a range of policy issues.
"In the past election, you failed," said Democratic Senator Ron Wyden, who normally is considered a strong ally of Silicon Valley.
US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the campaign, including through social media, to try to influence the vote in favour of Trump.
A US Justice Department special counsel and several congressional panels are investigating Russian meddling and any potential collusion by Trump's campaign.
Trump has said there was no collusion with Moscow ahead of the election.
Some ads targeted special-interest groups, such as gun owners. Photo / Supplied
Democrats and Republicans both said in yesterday's Senate intelligence hearing that the tech companies need to do more to police against foreign government abuse on their platforms.
Some Republicans, however, sought to distance that scrutiny from questions about the legitimacy of Trump's election victory.
Richard Burr, the Republican chairman of the panel, said it was impossible to measure the impact or know the motivation of the Russian operation to spread political material on social media.
Any conclusions that Trump benefited from Russia, perhaps in a decisive way, to win the White House ignored the complexity of the issue, Burr said.
"I'm here to tell you this story does not simplify that easily," he said.
Some Republicans also sought to portray the amount of Russian content as miniscule compared to the total amount of political material online.
The campaigns of Trump and Clinton spent a combined US$81 million ($117m) on Facebook ads, Stretch said, compared to about US$46,000 in ad buys from the internet Research Agency, a suspected Russian troll farm.
