Russia trolls stoked anti-Muslim sentiment before election: GOP Senator
Source: The Hill
BY BRETT SAMUELS - 11/01/17 10:56 AM EDT
Two Russian-linked Facebook accounts one anti-immigrant and the other pro-Muslim pitted Houston-area residents against each other prior to the 2016 election, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr said Wednesday.
Russian-linked trolls created and advertised the events for $200, Burr said during a hearing with representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter about Russian interference in the election.
One group, titled The Heart of Texas, promoted pro-Texas and anti-immigration messages with a tagline Texas: Homeland of Guns, BBQ and ur heart!" The other, titled United Muslims of America, claimed to be pro-Islam, and had a tagline Im a Muslim and Im proud.
The two groups placed advertisements on Facebook promoting events at the same time on May 21, 2016, near an Islamic Community Center. The ads were viewed by nearly 15,000 people combined, Burr said.
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http://thehill.com/policy/technology/358191-russia-trolls-stoked-anti-muslim-sentiment-before-election-gop-senator