Thread by @BBCNewsnight

This is how the Brexit Party dominated social media ahead of the EU elections. bit.ly/2HH16O8

But on Facebook, more is going on. Here’s our investigation into the murky world of closed groups

THREAD 👇

#newsnight | @mariannaspring
bbc.in/2EFOqVW

Closed Facebook groups are private; only approved members can see their content.

On both pro and anti-Brexit groups, Newsnight found disinformation and abuse

#newsnight | @mariannaspring | @Lucy_Webster_

Some posts share links to known conspiracy or alt-right websites.

For example, several groups shared content from a website, Brexit Betrayal News, with links to the QAnon conspiracy bbc.in/2Wf56hZ

#newsnight | @mariannaspring | @Lucy_Webster_

Links to sites like News Front were posted by a seemingly Russian-based user.

The site has been identified by an EU anti-disinformation taskforce as posting fake news beneficial to the Kremlin

#newsnight

One of the largest groups, “Brexit party - supporters,” had links to Trump supporters before it was shut down. It had no official links to the Brexit Party.

The party says it acts to close groups using its logo and acting suspiciously

#newsnight

Abusive language aimed at politicians from a range of parties can be found in these groups. Violent language aimed at Ann Widdecombe and Theresa May was posted in "No to Brexit!"

#newsnight

Read the whole Newsnight investigation: bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-tre…

#newsnight | @mariannaspring | @Lucy_Webster_ | #EUelections2019