Meta Blocks Facebook Group Operated by Inauthentic Accounts Related to the Kapčiamiestis Military Training Area

The National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) reports that Meta, the company operating the social network Facebook, has blocked the group "Peaceful Rūdninkai and Kapčiamiestis Military Training Area", which had been administered by fake and inauthentic accounts. This action followed the submission of evidence by NKVC analysts indicating that more than 80 percent of the group's users exhibited characteristics typical of inauthentic ("bot") accounts, while the authenticity of the group's administrators also raised significant concerns.

Meta additionally informed the NKVC that more than 2,000 suspicious Facebook accounts actively participating in discussions regarding the planned Kapčiamiestis military training area will be required to verify their identities in accordance with the company's procedures. According to NKVC analysts, this requirement is likely a formality preceding the removal of this network of inauthentic accounts from discussions of national-security relevance.

In a healthy democratic society, public debate can be vigorous, but it must be grounded in arguments presented by real individuals rather than manipulative noise generated by automated accounts. The participation of bot-driven or otherwise inauthentic accounts in discussions related to national security is unacceptable, as such activity may artificially increase tensions, influence public opinion, and undermine state decision-making. Protecting the information space is essential to ensuring societal resilience and maintaining public trust in state institutions. At the same time, the state must guarantee coordinated communication and ensure that residents are not left without clear and timely information. Institutions continue their efforts to provide the community of Kapčiamiestis with comprehensive, accurate, and professionally prepared information regarding the establishment of the military training area, noted NKVC Director Vilmantas Vitkauskas.

The NKVC, together with an interinstitutional team of information-incident analysts, monitored public Facebook groups and identified signs of coordinated inauthentic behaviour related to the Kapčiamiestis military training area. Between 5 and 12 January, NKVC analysts observed increased activity by inauthentic accounts across all Facebook groups discussing this topic. While coordinated behaviour was not detected in every group, several of them displayed clear indicators of organised activity.

During the monitoring period, NKVC identified at least one bot network consisting of nearly 1,000 accounts exhibiting highly automated and coordinated behaviour. The activity of these accounts was concentrated during night-time hours, and their geographic distribution - including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Zambia and others - clearly deviated from the patterns typical of organic user activity.

The bot network was detected in a Facebook group established in 2024 and originally dedicated to discussions about the Rūdninkai training area. In mid-December 2025, as public debate intensified around the Government's decision, the thematic scope of the group

expanded to include the Kapčiamiestis training area. On 23 December, the group's name was changed and the role of administrator was assumed by profiles exhibiting characteristics typical of inauthentic accounts.

The analysis indicates that the bot network was very likely used to artificially increase the group's visibility and amplify the dissemination of misleading content to Lithuanian users. Prior to the involvement of bots, the group had fewer than 200 genuine members. Following intensive activity by inauthentic accounts, membership increased to 1,700, later exceeded 5,000, and the group became the second most popular Facebook group dedicated to the Kapčiamiestis military training area.

Last updated: 11-02-2026

Related news:

Prime Minister Congratulates New Zealand on Its National Day

Lithuania allocates more than EUR 33 million to the needs of the Ukrainian people

Prime Minister Meets German President in Berlin

Prime Minister in Berlin: Lithuania Highly Values Germany's Leadership in Europe

Prime Minister: The Holocaust Is a Tragedy of Lithuania, Europe and the Entire World