Facebook gives investigators new details on Russian ads

On September 16, 2017, reports indicated that Facebook had provided special counsel Robert Mueller with more detailed records regarding Russian advertisement purchases than the company had previously shared with Congress. According to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with the matter, this information included copies of the advertisements and specific details about the accounts that purchased them.

A report from TechCrunch suggested that Facebook was likely compelled to turn over the additional records because the investigation team had obtained a search warrant. The advertisements and accounts in question reportedly focused on amplifying divisive social and political messages across the ideological spectrum, covering topics such as LGBT matters, race issues, immigration, and gun rights.

Although the information provided to Congress also included copies of the ads and buyer identities, some committee members were reportedly frustrated by Facebook’s level of cooperation, noting that company officials spoke only in generalities during briefings. According to Facebook, over 5,000 ads were run by these groups, and unidentified ad purchases may still exist on the social media network. The Senate Intelligence Committee was considering subpoenaing Facebook officials to testify publicly about how the Russian Federation may have used the platform to influence the 2016 election. At the time of the report, the Department of Justice had not responded to requests for comment.