Twitter probing Marcos network-linked accounts suspended for platform manipulation

MANILA, Philippines — Social media giant Twitter has assured the public that they are investigating the over 300 accounts linked to the network of former senator Bongbong Marcos, which were suspended for platform manipulation and spam.

Twitter in an email sent to INQUIRER.net on Monday said that the over 300 accounts belonging to supporters of the presidential aspirant were taken down for violating their policies against platform manipulation, and are still being probed as of posting time.

This includes the possible buying and selling of tweets and other site activities to increase metrics, like retweets, mentions, likes, and polls — which may merit permanent suspension of the accounts involved.

Similarly, the microblogging site promised to release further information on the issue, especially if they can ascertain that the operations of the accounts were state-sponsored.

According to a Twitter spokesperson, they are continuously strengthening their service by “building new defenses such as improving our auto-detection technology against attempted manipulation, which includes malicious automated accounts, spam, as well as other activities that violate our Terms of Service”.

Furthermore, Twitter said that they are willing to work with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to remove hindrances to a free election this coming May 2022.

“With the Philippine elections taking place this May, we remain vigilant about identifying and eliminating suspected information campaigns targeting election conversations,” the Twitter representative said.

“We are committed to working with all relevant governments – including Comelec – and civil society stakeholders as well as domain specialists and subject matter experts tackling the complex challenges to free and open elections,” it added.

Twitter also clarified that posting political content or even encouraging people to use hashtags are not considered a violation when done voluntarily or naturally, without the use of fake accounts.

On Monday, in an interview with One News PH, Marcos maintained that he has not operated any troll farm, adding that all the social media support he has been getting is organic.

READ: Bongbong Marcos: I have no troll farm 

This is not the first time that a social networking site took down accounts for platform manipulation, which were posting content about political entities.  In 2019, Facebook took down over 200 social media accounts and pages that belonged to President Rodrigo Duterte’s former social media manager.

According to Facebook, the posting of political content is not banned, but coordinated inauthentic behavior or the practice of making accounts seem independent when they belong to a certain network, is deemed a violation of their community guidelines.

READ: Facebook takes down accounts linked to Duterte’s ex-socmed strategist 

Then in 2020, Facebook again took down a series of accounts that were posting criticisms of the opposition, which were traced to government institutions — the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines — as the culprit for fake accounts.

READ: Over 100 fake accounts traced to PH police, the military shut down by Facebook

Another set of accounts based on China, which was urging Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to run for president, was also taken down during the same time period.

READ: Facebook shuts down fake China-based accounts backing Duterte, Sara’s possible presidential bid 

INQUIRER.net has reached out to the Marcos camp but has yet to respond as of posting time.

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