Although the people involved in the network were active military personnel, Meta’s investigation did not find enough evidence to determine whether they were following orders or acting independently, according to a person familiar with the matter. The scrapping operation, Meta’s first to hit a network focusing primarily on environmental issues, could also add to Bolsonaro’s attacks on big tech companies, which he accuses of stifling conservative voices on their platforms. Critics say Bolsonaro and his supporters are using the platforms to spread dangerous misinformation that undermines Brazil’s democratic institutions. In its report, Meta said the unknown network, which was limited in scope and genuinely committed, used fake Facebook and Instagram accounts to initially post about land reform and the 2020 pandemic before turning its attention to environmental issues last year. “Although the people behind [the network] “We tried to hide the identities and their coordination, our investigation found links with people related to the Brazilian army.” Meta declined to provide additional information about its investigation. Bolsonaro’s office and the Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
