Meta takes down Iran-based fake social media accounts targeting Scottish independence on Facebook and Instagram

The parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsAppnote-0 removed more than 100 fake Instagram accounts last month that violated its co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour policy through activities such as attempting to influence debate on Scottish independence.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, reported the removal of eight Facebook accounts and 126 Instagram accounts in an Iran-based network that was attempting to gain political and social influence online by posing as locals in Scotland and England in December.

According to the social media giant’s recap of its Co-ordinated Inauthentic Behaviour Enforcements in 2021, Meta discovered Iran-based fake accounts primarily targeting Scots as part of its wider internal investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behaviour in the region, with links to previous networks of influence operations removed in late 2020.

The company deems such behaviour on its platforms