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Philippines calls on Facebook to shut militants’ accounts

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MARAWI CITY: The Philippines army said on Friday it had called on Facebook to shut down dozens of accounts that militants have been using to spread misinformation about their attack on a southern town and to coordinate their battle with security forces.


The military’s social media-monitoring team identified 63 accounts under fake names that it believed were being used by the IS-allied Maute group and its sympathisers.


“They are spreading lies, they are spreading misinformation and they are creating more problems in our fight against the terrorists,” spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jo-Ar Herrera told a news conference in Marawi City, where at least 200 militants are still holed up 18 days after their attempt to capture the town.


Officials said an estimated 500-1,000 civilians were trapped in the built-up area occupied by the fighters, which came under heavy aerial bombardment on Friday.


Some civilians were being held as human shields, while others hiding in their homes fear capture by the militants and have no running water, electricity or food, said Zia Alonto Adiong, a politician involved in evacuation efforts.


Fake accounts are not permitted under Facebook, and in recent months the company has launched several initiatives against fake news.


“Our Community Standards do not allow groups or people that engage in terrorist activity, or posts that express support for terrorism,” a Facebook representative said.


“Fake accounts are also prohibited. We will remove accounts and content that violate these policies when we are made aware of them.”


One of the main militant factions dug in around the heart of the city is the Maute group, a relative newcomer on the insurgency-plagued island of Mindanao that analysts say is more sophisticated and media-savvy than more established groups.


“Part of what we are looking at is radicalisation in social media. This is used to radicalise the youth,” Herrera said. “We see massive misinformation and use of social media to facilitate propaganda activities.”


The seizure of Marawi City has alarmed Southeast Asian nations which fear IS is establishing a stronghold in Mindanao that could threaten the whole region.


— Reuters


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