Meta Shuts Down Thousands of Fake Accounts Ahead of 2024 Elections

The China-originated accounts aimed to amplify U.S. partisan divisions, highlighting the ongoing threat of online disinformation.

Meta, the tech company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has shut down nearly 4,800 fake social media accounts originating from China. These accounts were designed to appear as everyday American users and were used to spread polarizing political content ahead of the 2024 elections.
The fake accounts did not spread false content but rather reshared posts from both liberal and conservative sources on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. This suggests the goal was not to support one political side but to amplify partisan divisions and increase polarization.
Meta did not publicly link the Chinese network to the Chinese government, but it did determine the network originated in that country. The content spread by the accounts broadly complements other Chinese government propaganda and disinformation that has sought to inflate partisan and ideological divisions within the U.S.
Critics argue that Meta's focus on shutting down fake accounts distracts from its responsibility to address the misinformation already on its site that has contributed to polarization and distrust. For instance, Meta accepts paid advertisements claiming the 2020 U.S. election was rigged or stolen, amplifying debunked claims.
Meta's efforts to protect the election so far are seen as inadequate by some experts, who warn that the emergence of sophisticated AI programs makes it easier than ever to create misleading content. They argue that it will fall to the platforms to voluntarily police themselves, as significant regulations are unlikely to pass ahead of the 2024 election.