Russian Facebook ads inflamed Hispanic tensions over immigration after Trump election

Source: USA Today




Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY Published 5:00 a.m. ET May 25, 2018 | Updated 8:44 a.m. ET May 25, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO — In the months after Donald Trump rode to victory while calling for mass deportations, Russian operatives bought dozens of Facebook ads targeted at the Hispanic community seeking to further inflame tensions already roiled by the campaign's racially charged rhetoric, according to USA TODAY analysis.

Thousands of ads released by House Democrats earlier this month showed Russian operatives focused on race during the presidential election in what experts say was a clear effort to amplify existing divisions. They didn't stop there. In the first half of 2017, as Trump aggressively moved to restrict immigration, fake Facebook pages set up by a Russian propaganda operation started pushing ads on both sides of the immigration debate.

One set of ads targeted users who had shown interest in Hispanic and Latino culture with pro-immigration messages. Another set zeroed in on users whose views aligned with Trump on immigration and deportation.

The aim? To stir outrage on both sides, says propaganda expert James Ludes.


Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/05/25/russian-facebook-ads-sought-inflame-hispanic-tensions-after-trump-election/635066002/