Facebook owner Meta Platforms said on Thursday it has removed a network of social media accounts linked to the Brazilian military that posed as fake nonprofits to downplay the threats of deforestation. . Meta’s comments, published in the quarterly report, pose a reputational risk to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. A Far East army captain, a longtime skeptic of environmentalism, has deployed armed forces to the Amazon on failed missions to reduce the destruction of the world’s largest rainforest.
Although the individuals involved in the network were active military personnel, the META investigation did not find enough evidence to establish whether they were following orders or acting independently, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
The takedown operation, Meta’s first to hit networks focused primarily on environmental issues, could come under fire in Bolsonaro’s attacks on big tech firms, which he accused of suppressing conservative voices on his platforms.
Critics say Bolsonaro and his supporters use the platforms to spread dangerous propaganda that undermines Brazil’s democratic institutions.
In its report, Meta said that the anonymous network, which was limited in scale and authentic engagement, used fakes on Facebook and Instagram to post about land reform and the pandemic in 2020 before turning its attention to environmental issues last year. accounts used.
“In 2021, he created pages that posed as fictional NGOs and activists focused on environmental issues in the Amazonas region of Brazil. He posted about deforestation, arguing that it isn’t all that harmful, and criticizing legitimate environmental NGOs that spoke out against deforestation in the Amazon,” Meta said in its report. .
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“Although the people behind (the network) attempted to hide their identities and coordinates, our investigation found links to individuals linked to the Brazilian military.”
Meta declined to provide additional details about its investigation.
Bolsonaro’s office and the Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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