Facebook removes China-based, PH military and police-linked networks for ‘coordinated inauthentic behavior’

Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/overseas/09/22/fb.jpg"/><figcaption>Illustration taken on February 17, 2019, the US social media Facebook logo displayed on a tablet in Paris. <em>Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) - Facebook on Wednesday said several social-media accounts belonging to two networks -- one based in China, the other purportedly with &quot;links&quot; to individuals associated with the Philippine military and police -- were found to have violated its policies. </p><p>The social-networking company said it has thus removed pages, accounts, groups and Instagram profiles of the two unnamed networks, which were allegedly targeting the Philippines for &quot;coordinated inauthentic behavior&quot; or manipulation campaigns on the platform.</p><p>Fifty-seven Facebook accounts, 31 pages and 20 Instagram accounts, which constituted one network operating in the Philippines, were taken down, Facebook&#x27;s Head of Security Policy Nathaniel Gleicher told reporters in a virtual briefing that he conducted from California.</p><p>&quot;We are attributing this network to the Philippine military and Philippine police. In particular, we found links behind this network that connected to both these organizations and individuals associated with these organizations,&quot; Gleicher said.</p><p>&quot;Although the people behind this activity attempted to conceal their identities, our investigation found links to Philippine military and Philippine police,&quot; Facebook said in a <a href="https://about.fb.com/news/2020/09/removing-coordinated-inauthentic-behavior-china-philippines">statement</a>. </p><p>This network had about 276,000 followers in their pages, Gleicher said. He did not name the accounts and pages.</p><p>The network, the Facebook official added, was focused on local news events, domestic politics, military activities against terrorism, the anti-terrorism bill, criticism of communism, youth activists and the opposition, criticism of the Communist party of the Philippines and its military wing the New People’s Army, and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines.</p><p>Facebook said the alleged violations included using fake accounts to evade enforcement and representing themselves as a different person to &quot;amplify&quot; their contents, among others.</p><p>Facebook said it has yet to inform the government about the removal of the accounts.</p><p>Asked if Facebook would recommend actions the government could take on these accounts, Gleicher said: &quot;If they want to engage further we will talk to them, we’re going to be very careful. We wouldn’t want to provide them [actors/threat] a map on how to evade our enforcement.&quot;</p><p>The network was discovered by Facebook following a tip from civic organizations and Rappler, its affiliate in fact-checking, on a portion of the operations.</p><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/09/23/sg1.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/09/23/sg2.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/09/23/sg3.jpg"/></div><div><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/09/23/sg4.jpg"/></div></div><div class="slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>Samples of removed pages from the network operating in the Philippines.<cite> Screengrab: Facebook</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Samples of removed pages from the network operating in the Philippines.<cite> Screengrab: Facebook</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Samples of removed pages from the network operating in the Philippines.<cite> Screengrab: Facebook</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Samples of removed pages from the network operating in the Philippines.<cite> Screengrab: Facebook</cite></p></div></div></div><p>In March 2019, Facebook also <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/29/19/facebook-takes-down-more-ph-pages-for-inauthentic-behavior-fake-accounts">removed</a> pages and accounts associated with the public relations man Nic Gabunada for “inauthentic coordinated behavior,&quot; who also handled the social media campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/29/19/former-duterte-social-media-man-surprised-with-facebook-takedown">Former Duterte social media man &#x27;surprised&#x27; with Facebook takedown</a></li></ul><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2019/business/03/29/20190329-facebook.jpg"/><figcaption>Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy Nathaniel Gleicher during a press briefing in Taguig. March 29,2019. <em>Jessica Fenol, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>CHINA-BASED NETWORK </strong></div><p>The second network taken down &quot;emanated&quot; from the Fujian province in China and targeted people in Southeast Asia including the Philippines, Facebook said.</p><p>At least 155 accounts, 11 pages, 9 groups and 6 Instagram accounts linked to the China-based network were taken down, Gleicher said. Some 130,000 accounts followed one of the pages and 161,000 people joined one of the groups, he added.</p><p>Gleicher said this network also relied on fake accounts to pose as locals, to post into groups, to amplify their own content and to manage and comment on posts &quot;particularly on the naval activity on the South China Sea including the activity of US navy.&quot;</p><p>Sample pages of removed accounts that originated from China has also been released by Facebook: </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/09/23/china1.png"/><figcaption><em>Screengrab: Facebook</em></figcaption></figure></div><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/09/23/china2.png"/><figcaption><em>Screengrab: Facebook</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Interests in South China Sea, Hong Kong, &quot;contents supportive of President Duterte and Sara Duterte’s potential run in the 2022 presidential election,&quot; issues relevant to overseas Filipino workers and praise and some criticism of China were some of the focus of the China-based network, Gleicher added.</p><p>Facebook has so far dislodged at least 100 networks globally in a bid to keep the platform safe from what it described as &quot;inauthentic and manipulative&quot; behaviors, fake accounts and other threats to its userbase.</p><p>It has also banned or taken down several Philippine-based groups for spamming and misrepresentation amid criticisms the social-networking platform has not done enough to stop online hate. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/11/19/facebook-takes-down-twinmark-media-220-pages-for-fake-news-spam">Facebook bans Twinmark Media, 220 pages for &#x27;misrepresentation,&#x27; spam</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/23/18/facebook-removes-95-pages-39-accounts-for-spam-authenticity-violations">Facebook removes 95 pages, 39 accounts for spam, authenticity violations</a></li></ul>

<p>Facebook on Wednesday said several social-media accounts belonging to two networks -- one based in China, the other purportedly with "links" to individuals associated with the Philippine military and police -- were found to have violated its policies. </p>

Facebook on Wednesday said several social-media accounts belonging to two networks -- one based in China, the other purportedly with "links" to individuals associated with the Philippine military and police -- were found to have violated its policies.

Facebook removes China-based, PH military and police-linked networks for ‘coordinated inauthentic behavior’ | ABS-CBN

Halalan 2025

Entertainment

News

Metro.Style

Lifestyle

Sports

More

Traffic

Horoscope

Business

Facebook removes China-based, PH military and police-linked networks for ‘coordinated inauthentic behavior’

Facebook removes China-based, PH military and police-linked networks for ‘coordinated inauthentic behavior’

Jessica Fenol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 23, 2020 03:05 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 23, 2020 09:57 AM PHT

Read More:

ANC

ANC Top

Facebook

Facebook Philippines

coordinated inauthentic behavior

fake accounts

China-based network

Philippine military

Philippine police

Nathaniel Gleicher

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.