Acknowledging what many have long suspected, Facebook admitted Thursday that nations have tried to use the platform as a propaganda machine, directing covert campaigns to influence public opinion by spreading misleading information and manipulating users.But Facebook now understands how these "information operations" work, and it's ready to fight back.In a white paper penned by the social media giant's security team, Facebook outlined just how subtle such operations can be — they include more than just spreading so-called "fake news," a term the company cautions against using, since it's become a meaningless catch-all. Not only have countries and non-state groups set up fake accounts dedicated to spreading hacked or false information, but they've also used these accounts to cajole Facebook users into believing specific narratives and thus further certain political or ideological outcomes.Such operations have occurred, the company admitted, during the French and American presidential elections. Facebook also revealed that it had "taken action" against more than 30,000 fake accounts — or "false amplifiers," which are often operated not by bots but by humans — in France.Read more on VICE News