Meta Allows Exiled Oligarch to Run Facebook Ads in Moldova

Facebook ran ads for an exiled oligarch calling for protests against the pro-Western government, despite him and his political party. The Moldovan politician is part of the United States sanctions lists over his ties to the Kremlin.

Ukraine, 7 Other European Countries Says Social Media Helped Spread Wartime Disinformation — SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 18: In this photo illustration reports on Facebook's news ban on Australian and International content on February 18, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Facebook has banned publishers an users in Australia from posting it sharing news content as the Australian government prepares to pass laws that will require social media companies to pay news publishers for sharing using content on their platforms. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Allowing Protest Ads

Politician and convicted fraudster Ilan Shor featured an ad on Facebook. They included a political message stoking anger due to rising inflation and high fuel prices. Associated Press reported that before the ad was deleted, it was seen a million times in Moldova.

The post from Shor's political party targeted the administration of pro-Western President Maia Sandu. It revealed how Russia and its allies took advantage of the power of social media platforms as they spread propaganda and disinformation to weaponize economic and social insecurity.

As per Foreign Policy Adviser Dorin Frasineau, these advertisements encouraged others to protest against the government to destabilize Moldova and return it to Russia's influence. Frasineau is the foreign adviser of former Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, who resigned from her position and led to the formation of the new government.

He added that the posts were shared mainly by fake accounts. "Even though he is on the U.S. sanctions list, I still see sponsored ads on Facebook. We have talked with Facebook, but it is very hard because there is no specific person, no contact," the foreign policy adviser noted.

Meta's Response

Companies in the United States are prohibited from engaging in financial transactions with individuals and groups included in the sanctions lists. According to a released statement, the company adhere to US sanctions laws and will continue to detect and enforce fake accounts and page that violates its policies.

Meta claims that it removed the posts as soon as it found them. The company stated, "When Ilan Shor and the Shor Party were added to the U.S. sanctions list, we took action on their known accounts. When we identified new associated accounts, we took action on those, as well."

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A London-based non-profit company Reset was the one who identified the ads. The company is full of researchers who dig into social media's impact on democracy. As per Business Insider, Reset Senior Adviser Felix Kartte stated that Meta's published ads and response have concerning implications for Europe's security.

"Their platforms continue to be weaponized by the Kremlin and Russian secret services, and because of the company's inaction, the U.S. and Europe risk losing a key ally in the region," Kartte noted.

The Shorr Party ran nine paid posts on Facebook despite the imposed sanctions. While most ads were removed from the platform within a week, Shor bought another paid post last January, only two months after he was sanctioned.