Russian-linked Facebook ads aimed at Wisconsin, Michigan: report

A series of Russian-linked Facebook ads were specifically aimed at Michigan and Wisconsin during the lead-up to last year’s presidential election, CNN reported on Tuesday.

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Some of those ads targeted specific demographic groups in the two states, according to sources who spoke to CNN.

Some of the ads reportedly included anti-Muslim messages.

Earlier this week, Facebook revealed that roughly 10 million users saw political ads purchased by Russian actors around the time of the 2016 election.

Some 44 percent of the ads were seen before the election, while 56 percent were seen after, according to the company’s numbers.

Michigan and Wisconsin both proved to be key states in the 2016 election: Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton unexpectedly lost both of the states to President Trump.

Congressional investigators have since cracked down on Facebook and other social media sites over their role in the 2016 election. 

Facebook revealed last month that it had sold more than 3,000 political ads to a Russian troll farm during the election.

The company has since turned over the ads to congressional investigators and special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into Russian election interference.