A network of fake social media accounts impersonated political candidates and journalists to spread pro-Iranian messages around the 2018 US congressional elections, cybersecurity firm FireEye has revealed. The operation, which targeted both Republican and Democratic candidates, aimed to influence American voters by promoting anti-Saudi, anti-Israeli, and pro-Palestinian themes.
The campaign used fake personas on Twitter and Facebook, with most accounts created last year and since removed. Fake accounts impersonated Republican candidates Jineea Butler of New York and Marla Livengood of California, plagiarising their legitimate posts while mixing in pro-Iranian content. Livengood's campaign described it as 'clearly an attempt by bad actors' to harm her campaign.
FireEye researcher Lee Foster said some fake personas, often posing as American journalists, successfully convinced US news outlets to publish letters to the editor and guest columns. The writings covered topics such as the Trump administration's designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
Twitter removed 2,800 inauthentic accounts originating in Iran, while Facebook removed 51 accounts, 36 Pages, seven Groups, and three Instagram accounts. Facebook's head of cybersecurity policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said the activity on Facebook was more narrowly focused, often privately messaging high-profile figures like journalists and Iranian dissidents.
FireEye assessed with low confidence that the network was organised to support Iranian political interests, but the investigation is ongoing. It remains unclear whether the fake accounts had any effect on the candidates' campaigns.
