Facebook Admits PR Attack on Billionaire George Soros

Facebook has admitted that it has targeted George Soros while carrying out a campaign against Russian interference in the 2016 American Presidential elections. This led to controversy in Washington as the Facebook linked Definers Public Affairs firm to George Soros. Facebook and Definers worked together for the press coverage but in October 2017, their relationship expanded.

In a blog, Elliot Schrage mentioned the details of hiring the Definers firm and included Soros in the criticism. Mark Zuckerberg said that he had no knowledge of a PR campaign conducted against Soros. He came to know about it when Times Investigation made it public. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg also denied the campaign but later accepted that the PR’s company work went through her desk. After that Facebook had no relation to the Definers.

Schrage also said that the documents were prepared by the Definers and then distributed to the press. Times Investigation has told the initial relationship between Facebook and Definers and then their expansion. They promoted the negative campaign done by its rivals Google and Apple. Schrage also said that the relationship between Facebook has not been managed properly and accepted his failure.

Soros was targeted by Definers and it sent documents to the reporters mentioning that Soros played a role behind the anti-Facebook movement. This was done through Open Society Foundations and Color of Change groups which partnered with Freedom from Facebook an anti-Facebook advocacy group.