Facebook says likely Russian-based operation spent money on ads on issues

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Facebook Inc (FB.O) said Wednesday it had found that an influence operation likely based in Russia spent $100,000 on ads promoting divisive social and political messages in a two-year-period through May.

The dominant social network said that many of the ads promoted 470 “inauthentic” accounts and pages that it has now suspended and the ads spread polarizing views on topics including immigration, race and gay rights, instead of backing a particular political candidate.

Facebook announced the findings in a blog post by its chief security officer and said that it was cooperating with federal inquiries into influence operations during the presidential election.