Facebook removes multiple accounts linked to IMN

Facebook has removed hundreds of accounts, pages and groups linked to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) from its platforms.

According to a report shared on Twitter by Shelby Grossman, a research scientist at Stanford Internet Observatory, the tech giant said it removed a total of 47 pages, 93 groups, 79 profiles, and 48 Instagram accounts linked to IMN.

According to the report, the operators of the account called for the release of  Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, IMN leader, who has been imprisoned since 2015.

“Today, Facebook announced the removal of a network of accounts run by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. My Stanford internet observatory team analysed the network before it was taken down,” the tweet read.

“The network was suspended not because of the content of the posts, but rather because the Facebook pages and groups were run by fake accounts. Facebook calls this coordinated inauthentic behaviour.

“The Facebook pages and groups advocated for the release of IMN leader Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The operation primarily originated in Nigeria, but there were some interesting connections to Iran. Five of the pages had administrators located in Iran & the network frequently linked out to HausaTv. com, which is tied to Iranian state media.”

🇳🇬Today Facebook announced the removal of a network of accounts run by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. My Stanford Internet Observatory team analyzed the network before it was taken down. Our report: https://t.co/i71mH8lLHO

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— Shelby Grossman (@shelbygrossman) October 8, 2020

The pages were said to be criticising the Nigeria government and the United States intervention in the Chibok kidnappings in Nigeria.

“Many pages purported to be independent news pages. The most common topic? Free Zakzaky protests. The network had some anti-France content (very recently, in response to the republishing of the Charlie Hebdo prophet cartoon).

“And some anti-American messaging (criticizing US intervention in Nigeria around the time of the Chibok kidnappings). Many posts criticised the Nigerian government.”

Over 5,000 followers were linked to one or more of the pages and the most popular page, SR TV HAUSA, had 31,181 followers.