Facebook accounts spread fake news to Europe, advocacy group says.

A recent study conducted by Avaaz, a non-profit campaign organisation, has found multiple Facebook accounts, with millions of followers, respectively, spreading far-right fake news and misinformation for political gains across European countries.

The 53-page report, observing the last three months, found over 500 pages and groups, and over 300 profile spreading disinformation.

Such behaviour is against Facebook's regulations. However, concerns have risen over the timing of the misinformation as the European elections begin this Thursday (between May 23rd and May 26th).

Yet, a more in-depth analysis suggests that the pages and groups were set up to change political stances by giving a false perception of grassroots, supporting content.

Facebook has already taken down some accounts (77 pages and groups and 230 profiles) with millions of followers, and they are reportedly investigating hundreds of other accounts with even more followers, approximately 26 million more.

Facebook's team and Avaaz's team are not working together for the investigation.

Avaaz's study suggests that the suspect Facebook pages and groups are operating across Europe, including the UK, Poland, Spain, Italy, France and Germany.

With the vast geographical spread of fake news, and the origin pages already receiving half a billion views, some could argue that the damage of the fake news had already been done.

The activity that Avaaz's study found included white supremacist content, Holocaust denial and fake pages promoting for far-right political parties.

The report ultimately questions whether the fight against fake news, especially on Facebook's platform, is being handled well or if the fight is being lost altogether.

Facebook has made efforts to counter fake news on its platform. Last March, 137 UK accounts (on Facebook and Instagram) were pulled down for misrepresentation of identity. In the meantime, they have been working with journalists and researchers to locate and counter fake news on its platform.