The statement goes on to say: “Although the people behind this network attempted to conceal their identities and coordination, our investigation linked this activity to Epoch Media Group, a US-based media organization, and individuals in Vietnam working on its behalf.”
The Epoch Media Group has no connection with the website BL.
The Epoch Times and The BL media companies are unaffiliated. The BL was founded by a former employee, and employs some of our former employees. However, that some of our former employees work for BL is not evidence of any connection between the two organizations.
In July Facebook banned the Epoch Media Group from advertising on Facebook.
In a Nov. 15 letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Rep. Banks writes of Facebook’s decision, “Facebook has realized a Chinese Communist Party goal outside China’s homeland.” Later in the same letter, Banks writes, “By prohibiting The Epoch Times from advertising you have indirectly aided the Chinese Communist Party in their worldwide soft power competition with the United States.”
Banks notes that Facebook’s spokesperson “omitted any justification for the initial ban [on advertising].” Banks then asks the question, “[W]hich Facebook advertising policies did The Epoch Times violate before you closed their main account?”
Epoch Media Group calls upon Facebook to withdraw its claim that Epoch Media Group has been involved in coordinated action with BL and to withdraw its claim that BL has been working on behalf of Epoch Media Group.
Epoch Media Group also calls upon Facebook to lift its unjustified ban on Epoch Media Group advertising.
