A vast network of Facebook pages has been spending millions of dollars to promote fake government benefits and ‘free’ Trump gifts.

Meta prohibits ads that sell guns and gun accessories. But it’s allowing ads on Facebook and Instagram that offer a range of firearms for sale.

Facebook says it’s committed to protecting election integrity. But it’s allowing users to buy and sell accounts that can run political ads under a fake identity.

Meta says it prohibits ads that sell prescription and recreational drugs. But it’s approving drug dealer ads targeting users in multiple countries.

Facebook hosts a thriving black market for fake and stolen accounts. Some sellers are offering accounts that can run political ads in India, raising election interference fears.

Facebook bans ‘militia communities.’ But it’s hosting an array of militia groups that push misinformation about migrants at the U.S. southern border.

Misinformation has endangered and confused migrants heading for the U.S. It’s also whipping up anti-migrant sentiment in Mexico.

Facebook prohibits the buying and selling of accounts. But the platform hosts a thriving black market for Facebook business manager accounts that can run multiple ad campaigns.

Meta prohibits advertising that promotes the sale or use of guns and gun accessories. But a TTP investigation shows the company allows weapon ads that violate those policies on a regular basis.

The Canadian government and fact checkers have warned about a fake Canadian visa program targeting migrants. Meta’s platforms are allowing it to spread unchecked.

For years, Facebook has been auto-generating pages for groups like al-Qaeda and the Proud Boys. That means it’s creating content for groups involved in real-world violence.

Human smugglers are making heavy use of tech platforms to reach migrants.

Facebook saw its first surge of anti-government “boogaloo bois” in 2020 at the start of the pandemic. Despite a Facebook ban, they’re creeping back on the platform.

White supremacists continue to have a home on Facebook—and the platform is generating ad revenue off them.

We talked to migrants about their information diets. Here’s what we learned.

A TTP investigation last year found that Instagram allowed teen users to easily find a range of deadly drugs on the platform. Months later, very little has changed.

Newly released documents and research are shining light on the expansive, and expensive, influence campaign being waged by American Edge Project (AEP), the Facebook supported anti-regulatory attack dog.

Facebook has failed to remove U.S.-based militia groups from its platform. Now they’re organizing support for the trucker protests making their way to Washington.

Facebook played a key role in radicalizing people who took part in the Jan. 6 insurrection last year. The platform still hasn't cleaned up its act.

Instagram says it removes posts that encourage anorexia and bulimia. New research finds that the platform still pushes such content to adult and teen accounts.

Instagram says it prohibits buying and selling of drugs. But TTP found that minor users had access to a range of pharmaceuticals on the platform.

Facebook restricted ad targeting of teens following investigations by TTP and Reset Australia. But TTP’s latest experiment shows Facebook still hasn’t fixed the problem.

Facebook insists it doesn’t allow human smugglers to use its platform. But TTP’s latest research shows Facebook continues to host a market for illegal border crossings. 

Far-right militia groups flourish on Facebook despite a promised crackdown. Now they’re prime spreaders of misinformation about the Covid vaccines.

Facebook failed to stem the flow of election conspiracies that led to the Capitol riot. Now, it’s failing again with misinformation about Arizona’s election ‘audit.’

Facebook Restricts Ad Targeting for Kids

TTP found more Facebook pages and groups offering illegal border crossing services. They show prices and routes—and often promise easy passage.

A TTP experiment found that Facebook approved a range of troubling advertisements for children aged 13 to 17. The findings echo a similar study in Australia.

Facebook says it doesn’t allow human exploitation. But smugglers are using the platform to offer migrants illegal passage across the southern U.S. border.

Mark Zuckerberg is about to face lawmakers two months after the Capitol riot. But Facebook still hasn’t fixed its militia problem.

Facebook has been heavily promoting a message that it welcomes government regulation, as its CEO prepares to face lawmakers for the first time since the U.S. Capitol riot.

Facebook has announced crackdowns on militia groups and “stop the steal” election conspiracies. But it’s allowing both to converge in a new pro-Trump “Patriot Party” movement that’s growing rapidly on the platform.

Facebook suspended President Trump following the mob attack on Congress. But the platform allowed organizing for the pro-Trump rally, as well as the spread of conspiracy theories and militant extremism that drove the rioters.

Facebook suspended President Trump and announced other actions after the U.S. Capitol riot. But it continued to push ads for military gear next to insurrection posts.

Facebook Pauses Military Gear Ads

Facebook, Google Still Offering ‘Embed’-Like Consulting to Campaigns

For years, Facebook profited from militia group ads looking to attract new recruits. The messages reached tens of thousands of users.

Facebook offered state officials a customized dashboard to monitor for election interference. But the tool doesn’t give the full picture of disinformation on the platform.

Facebook announced its expansive voter registration drive back in June. But it got off to a slow and halting start amid complaints by the Trump campaign.

Facebook has announced multiple crackdowns on anti-government extremists. But the company’s slow and ineffective response has allowed the movement to persist on its platform.

Facebook-owned Instagram disabled ‘related hashtags’ for key Trump content, blocking potentially negative messages. Biden didn’t get the same treatment.

Instagram Turns Off ‘Related Hashtags’

Facebook Cracks Down on ‘Boogaloo’

Facebook took no action against the groups after TTP identified them in an April report. Now three of their members are accused of planning violence at a Las Vegas protest.

Facebook executives like Sheryl Sandberg have spent years building relationships with state attorneys general. Now that influence operation is being put to the test as the AGs investigate the company for potential antitrust violations.

Facebook’s “Related Pages” feature points users toward similar content to keep them engaged. But in the case of white supremacist groups, the feature can give people a pathway to more hate-filled extremism. 

Facebook says hate groups aren’t allowed on the platform. But white supremacists are using the social network to build their movement.

Scaly, ant-eating pangolins are at risk of extinction—and being studied as a potential coronavirus host. But the animals are still available for sale on Facebook.

The groups are fanning fears of government lockdowns as they prepare for an uprising they call the “boogaloo.”

Facebook and Google banned sales and advertising of medical face masks amid coronavirus scams and shortages. But the content didn’t go away.

Facebook said it was removing videos of the New Zealand massacre. But 12 months later, they’re still available on the social network.

Facebook says it doesn’t tolerate child exploitation on its platform. But federal criminal cases show pedophiles have inundated the social network for years.

How Facebook and Google’s Campaign Embeds Benefit Their Bottom Lines