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27 Oct, 10 tweets, 9 min read
NEW: A week ahead of #Election2020 @facebook announces takedown of 3 networks, 2 of which targeted the #UnitedStates

One operated from #Mexico #Venzuela w/individuals posing as Americans supporting various social/political causes

2nd originated in #Iran
about.fb.com/news/2020/10/r…
Network operating from #Mexico #Venzuela involved 2 Facebook pages & 22 @instagram accounts, per @Facebook

It began in April 2020 using "fake accounts to create fictitious personas and post content"
Topics included: humor, race relations / racial injustice, feminism / gender relations, environmental issues & religion

"A small portion of this content included memes posted by the #Russia|n Internet Research Agency (IRA) in the past" per @Facebook
"We began this investigation based on information about this network’s off-platform activity from the @FBI" per @facebook

"Around 54,500 people followed one or more of these Instagram accounts" per @facebook

Examples of the content:
.@facebook took down the 2nd network - originating from #Iran based on @FBI info related to #Election2020 #disinformation

The network consisted of 12 FB accounts, 6 pages & 11 @Instagram accounts
Based on @FBI info, @Facebook took down "a single fake account created in October 2020 that attempted to seed false claims & unsubstantiated election-related threats as part of an influence operation carried out primarily via email"

Further investigation led to addt'l accounts
Per @Facebook, the #Iran-based effort appears linked to a similar network it took down in April 2020 which was linked to the Iranian government
A 3rd network of 9 FB accounts, 8 pages & 2 @instagram accounts "posted primarily in #Burmese about current events in #Rakhine state in #Myanmar, including posts in support of the Arakan Army and criticism of Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s Armed forces" per @facebook
Per @Facebook, the network targeting #Myanmar had +16,500 followers

"We found this network as part of our proactive investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior ahead of the upcoming election in the region" the company said
"The networks we removed today were caught early in their operation, before they were able to build their audience" per post by @facebook's @ngleicher

"It’s important that we all stay vigilant, but also see these campaigns for what they are — small and ineffective" he adds

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More from @jseldin

Jeff Seldin Profile picture
28 Oct
Happening now: "The president deals w/the world as it is-we deal w/dictators & authoritarian regimes as they are, not as we hope them to be" US Nat'l Security Adviser @robertcobrien tells @HudsonInstitute Image
"We don't turn a blind eye to their conduct expecting somehow that they'll change" per @robertcobrien

"He's done the hard work of strengthening our alliances & in doing so has put substance over style, & he's been criticized for that" he adds
"We think that his actions have demonstrated that the US will no longer be a party to arrangements, organizations, int'l conventions, treaties where our sovereignty is not respected" per @robertcobrien

".. led to demonstrable results that have made the American ppl safer"
Read 9 tweets
Jeff Seldin Profile picture
26 Oct
NEW: Local officials say #Taliban were killed in the #Afghanistan-led operation in #Ghazni province that killed senior #alQaida official Abu Muhsin al-Masri
“A #Taliban commander, Emran Hanzalah, & few other fighters were killed,” Vahidullah Jumah Zada, a spokesperson for the governor of Ghazni province,
told @VOADariAfghan
“Such kind of people are seen a lot in Qarah Bagh, Andar, and Giru districts,” Esmatullah Jamoradwal, a member of #Ghazni’s Provincial Council, told @VOADariAfghan “They speak Urdu, Arabic and other languages”
Read 4 tweets
Jeff Seldin Profile picture
26 Oct
Key US official expressing optimism for #Election2020 w/#ElectionDay a week away

"Even w/ the activity we've seen from #Iran & #Russia we have confidence in the security of your vote, & you should, too" per @CISAKrebs
More from @CISAKrebs #Election2020 & voting early: "Early voting options help from a security/resilience perspective, as we have more opportunities to identify, isolate, investigate, & fix any issues early on. So give your election officials a break and vote early, if you can"
A warning #Election2020 will not be over on Nov. 3

"in the days & weeks that follow we will see efforts to delegitimize the process" warns @CISAKrebs "Don't fall for it..."
Read 6 tweets
Jeff Seldin Profile picture
26 Oct
BREAKING: US official confirms death of high-ranking #alQaida official Abu Muhsin al-Masri in #Afghanistan-led op in Ghazni province

Official tells @VOANews that US forces provided support
BREAKING: Multiple officials say the senior #alQaida leader killed by @NDSAfghanistan is NOT the terror group's number #2 official and likely heir to AQ leader Ayman al-Zawahiri

Officials say confusion likely caused by the similar aliases used by both high-ranking operatives
Officials say the #alQaida official killed in #Afghanistan's Ghazni province is Abu Muhsin al-Masri, aka Husam Abd al-Ra’uf

According to recent @UN reports, al-Masri/al-Ra'uf was a key liaison between AQ & the Taliban
fbi.gov/wanted/wanted_…
Read 5 tweets
Jeff Seldin Profile picture
22 Oct
BREAKING: @CISAgov confirms #Russia-linked actor - known as #BerserkBear - has compromised US state and local government targets

The actor "successfully compromised network infrastructure, & as of October 1, 2020, exfiltrated data from at least two victim servers"
"The #Russia|n-sponsored APT actor is obtaining user & administrator credentials to establish initial access, enable lateral movement once inside the network, & locate high value assets in order to exfiltrate data" per @CISAgov
"To date, the @FBI & CISA have no information to indicate this [#Russia|n] APT actor has intentionally disrupted any aviation, education, elections, or government operations" per @CISAgov "However, the actor may be seeking access to obtain future disruption options"
Read 14 tweets
Jeff Seldin Profile picture
22 Oct
Top 4 nation-state threats to US: #China #NorthKorea #Iran & #Russia, @TheJusticeDept Asst AG John Demers tells @CSIS
US has prosecuted 13-14 cases vs #NorthKorea over the past 2 years - both criminal prosecutions, seizures/going after property & #cyber, per Demers
#DPRK activity being drive by need for hard currency - "A lot of it is getting money, getting cash" especially on the #cyber side, per @TheJusticeDept's Demers
Read 7 tweets

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