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Twitter removes thousands of accounts allegedly linked to Saudi Arabia
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 21, 2019 (BSS/XINHUA) – Twitter has removed 5,929
accounts allegedly originating in Saudi Arabia for “violating our platform
manipulation policies,” it announced Friday.
The accounts were attributed by Twitter to a larger network of more than
88,000, which was blamed for engaging in “spamming” or “state-backed
information operation.”
The San Francisco-based social media giant said its security team found the
operation was linked to Smaat, a Saudi social media marketing and management
company.
Twitter accused Smaat of “coordinated activity” by creating, purchasing and
managing the accounts on behalf of its clients, which Twitter sees as a
manipulation of its platform.
Twitter said it has permanently banned Smaat’s access to its services, as
well as the accounts of Smaat’s senior executives.
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