There’s a lot of information floating around about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. Some of it is true, some untrue, and some just bizarre. A recent FiercePharma article covered a case where social media giant Facebook banned an ad agency from two of its platforms for spreading false information about the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. The company is a U.K.-based marketing agency called Fazze, but it mostly operates from Russia, according to Facebook.
The agency tried to engage influencers on Instagram, YouTube and TikTok to post content with specific hashtags. However, virtually none of them complied, and instead publicized the campaign, which led to an investigation. Facebook praised the influencers who came forward, and the media investigations from CNN, The Daily Beast and Graphika. In total, 65 Facebook accounts and 243 Instagram accounts were banned for breaking its rule against “coordinated inauthentic behavior on behalf of a foreign entity.”
