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Congress of the United States Maslyington, DC 20513 January 23, 2018 Mark Zuckerberg Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Facebook Ine. I Hacker Way Menlo Bark, CA 94025 Mr. Jack Dorsey Chief Exeewtive Diticer ‘Twitter, Inc. 1355 Market Street Suite 900 San Francisco, CA 94103 Deur Mr. Dorsey und Mc. Zuckerberg: ‘We seck your companies’ urgent assistance, Public reports indicate that accounts linked lo the Russian government arc again exploiting Twitter and Facebook platforms in an elforl to maniptlate puiblic opinion." ‘These cecent Russian efforis are intended to influence congressional action and undermine Special Counsel Mucller's investigation, which has already resulted in the indictments of two Trump campaign officiuls and guilty pleas from two others, ‘who are both now cooperating with prosecutors. ICs critically important that the Special Counsel's investigation be allowed to proceed without interference from inside or outside the United States. That is why we seek your assistance in our efforts 0 coutler Russia's continuing efforts lo manipulate public opinion and ‘ondermine American democracy and the mile of law. Specifically, on Thorsday, lanusry 18, 2018, the House Permanent Sctcct Committee on Intelligence (HPSC1) Majority voted to allow Members of the U.S. House of Representatives to review a misleading talking points “memo” authored by Republican staff that selectively references and distorts highly classified information. ‘The rushed decision to make this document available t6 the full " Navas Benrand, “Rusaiinked Twitter wtcounts are working overtini to help Devin Nunes and Wiloleas,” Busines insider, lun. 19,2018; Kon Dilanian and Mike Maco, "Right-ving dems 0 ‘RcleaseTheMeri andorced hy Ruscan hats, rl,” NBC News, Januaey 19,2018; Warren Steobel and orafhan Landay, "In ight over Resi momo, Kepublicans have Unusual aly.” Reuters, Junuary 19, 2018 1 House of Representatives was followed quickly hy calls fram some quarters to release the document to the publi Several Twitler hashlays, inclading #ReteaseTheMeme, calting for release of these talking points attacking the Mueller investigation were horn in the hours aller the Commmitiee vole? According to the German Marshall Fund's Alliance for Securing Democracy. this effort gained the immediate attention and assistance of social media accounts linked to Russian influence operations.’ By Friday, Jamrary 19. 2018, the #ReleaseTheMteme hashtag was “the top wending hashtag among Twitter accounts believed to be operated by Kremlia-linked groups. Its use had, “increased by 286.700 percent” and was being used “1HW) times more than any other hasta” by accounts linked (9 Russian influence campaigns.” These accounts are also promoting an offer by Wikileaks to pay up to $1 million to _myone who leaks this classified partisan memo. IF these reports are accurate, we ate witnessing an ongoing attack by the Russian government through Kremlin-linked social media actors directly acting to intervene and influence our democratic process, This should be disconcerting to all Anmericans, bal especially your eoropanies as, once again, i appears Une vast majority of their cfforts arc concentrated on your platforms. ‘This futest example of Russian interference is in keeping with Moscow's concerted, covert, and cemlinuing campaign Ir manipubits: American public opinion and erede rust in our law enforcement and intelligence institutions. We understand Facebook and Twitter have developed significant expertise in identifying inauthentic and malicious accounts. Turther, your forensic investigations into Russian government exploitation of your platformns during the 2016 US. election have helped expose to the American public the vast extent of Russia’s covert influence efforts. We therelore request that your companies conduct an in depth forensic cramination of this real time aclivity on your platlirms to determine: 1, swhether and how many accounts linked to Russian influence operations are involved in this campaign; ‘Son, eg, Fox News, “Hannity.” January 18, 2018, availahle at ups Soxnews. comtrunscripu201S10U1Seepsjsm-ondan-and-mutl-guet-on-fisu-sbuses lm 2 Beets, spe wae “Al sland, "Russian ‘Twictor accounts pushing tor releass of sh Jon. 19,2018 Ha mg’ orvellance morn,” The Hil 2. the frequency and volume of their postings on this topie: and 3. how many legitimate Twitter and Facebook account holders have been exposed to this compaign. Given the urgency of this matter, we ask that you provide a public report lo ‘Congress and the American public hy Fanuary 26, 2018. Tn addition, we urge your companies to iminediately lake necessary steps to expose and deactivate accounis involved in this influence operation that violate your respective user policies. Sincerely, | aa eta hn ala Lif Dianne Feinstein. Adam EB. TE United States Senator Member of Congress