Initially dismissive of Russia’s threat, all three companies have pledged improvements since lawmakers ramped up pressure and called them to testify. The few dozen ads are a sampling from more than 3,000 Russia-linked ads Facebook had turned over to the committee. U.S. intelligence services say the Russian use of social media was part of a broad effort to sway the 2016 presidential election in favour of Trump. Company executives said that going forward they would verify political ad buyers in federal elections, requiring them to reveal correct names and locations. Though U.S. intelligence officials believe the social media effort was aimed at aiding Trump, there are other indications it was intended to sow general divisions.

Source: National Post November 02, 2017 08:22 UTC