Examples of Russian facebook ads

Between June 2015 and August 2017, millions of Americans were exposed to Facebook ads and posts generated by Russian operatives who sought to influence voter behavior and exploit divisions in American society on hot-button issues. A number of the ads released during the House Intelligence Committee hearing on Nov. 1 reveal how the Russians used Facebook’s advertiser tools, as well as free posts, to target people by their interests, political leanings, location, age and other traits.

Anatomy of a Russian ad

The metadata released by lawmakers show how Russians zeroed in on numerous groups — people in Texas or Ferguson, Mo., supporters of Muslims, and those who oppose Muslim immigration. Each were targeted with different messages for different reasons.

Below are real examples of Russian posts that were promoted to specific demographic and ideological groups. You can find what Facebook considers your interests in your ad preferences settings.

See the ads Russians targeted to a person who was …

Someone who “likes” patriotism • A Bernie Sanders supporter • A Texan • A person in Ferguson, Mo. • A New Yorker supporting a group that mimicked Black Lives Matter • A New Yorker supporting Trump • Someone who “likes” Muslims of America • Someone who supports veterans • An LGBT supporter • A Southern conservative • A Christian conservative • A civil rights supporter • Opposed to muslim immigration • An NRA supporter • Someone who “likes” the page Being Patriotic • Supportive of strong borders • A Hillary Clinton supporter

If you were …

Someone who “likes” patriotism

3,361 impressions, 808 clicks

First run

Aug. 4, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Independence, patriotism

Locations targeted

Texas

If you were …

A Bernie Sanders supporter

1,938 impressions, 222 clicks

First run

June 8, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Bernie Sanders

If you were …

A Texan

16,168 impressions, 2,342 clicks

First run

Oct. 26, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

People who like Heart of Texas

Locations targeted

Texas

If you were …

A person in Ferguson, Mo.

783,116 impressions, 55,761 clicks

First run

July 13, 2015

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Martin Luther King Jr., African-American Civil Rights Movement, African-American history, Malcolm X, blacknews.com or HuffPost Black Voices, African American

Locations targeted

Atlanta, Maryland, Ferguson, Mo., St. Louis, Virginia

If you were …

A New Yorker supporting a group that mimicked Black Lives Matter

188 impressions, 26 clicks

First run

Nov. 9, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

BM, friends of people who are connected to BM

Locations targeted

New York City

A New Yorker supporting Trump

15,255 impressions, 1,312 clicks

First run

July 12, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Donald Trump, Donald Trump for President, Donald Trump Jr.

Locations targeted

New York City

If you were …

Someone who “likes” Muslims of America

73,077 impressions, 3,063 clicks

First run

Dec. 18, 2015

Groups targeted

Ages 18-59

Interests targeted

Zaid Shakir, Muslims for America, Abu Easa Niamatullah

Excluding

People who like United Muslims for America

If you were …

Someone who supports veterans

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Supporting veterans, independence, patriotism

Locations targeted

Texas

If you were …

An LGBT supporter

4,798 impressions, 240 clicks

First run

May 11, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 14-65+

Interests targeted

Bernie Sanders, LGBT rights, Hillary Clinton, Same-sex marriage

If you were …

A Southern conservative

9,244 impressions, 85 clicks

First run

Aug. 16, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Conservative News Today, Young Republicans, The Conservative, The Tea Party, Donald Trump, Republican party, Gun Owners of America, Donald Trump for President, College Republicans

Locations targeted

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi South Carolina

If you were …

A Christian conservative

71 impressions, 14 clicks

First run

Oct. 19, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Laura Ingraham, God, Ron Paul, Christianity, Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Andrew Breitbart, Bible, Conservatism, Michael Savage, Faith, Mike Huckabee, Jesus

If you were …

A civil rights supporter

15,453 impressions, 1,471 clicks

First run

Oct. 18, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Martin Luther King Jr., African-American civil rights Movement, African-American history, Malcolm X

If you were …

Opposed to muslim immigration

Interests targeted

No targeting information released. One of four ads from group Stop All Invaders.

If you were …

An NRA supporter

301,608 impressions, 24,955 clicks

First run

Oct. 21, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

Right to keep and bear arms, The Second Amendment, National Rifle Association, Second Amendment Sisters, Gun Owners of America, Second Amend to the United States Constitution, Concealed carry in the United States, Gun Rights, National Association for Gun Rights, Guns & Ammo, Gun Rights Across America

If you were …

Someone who “likes” the page Being Patriotic

3,362 impressions, 761 clicks

First run

Oct. 14, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 18-65+

Interests targeted

People who like Being Patriotic

If you were …

Supportive of strong borders

145,045 impressions, 21,260 clicks

First run

Feb. 9, 2016

Groups targeted

Ages 17-65+

Interests targeted

Conservatism, Confederate States of America, Donald Trump, Republican Party, Dixie, Right to keep and bear arms, The Second Amendment, Stop Illegal Immigration, National Rifle Association, Donald Trump for President, male