washington u.s. lawmakers release batch russian-bought facebook inc ads wednesday showcased politically charge content allegedly spread social media moscow ahead 2016 u.s. election ads criticize candidates others seek organize promote simultaneous rally opposite side divisive issue sample post house committee website pull roughly 3,000 ads facebook provide congressional investigators last month tech company recently acknowledge russia-based content u.s. politics social issue like gun right immigration religion race spread platforms election ads sample specifically deal u.s. election critical democratic candidate hillary clinton one account call army jesus say clinton support evil force hillary satan crimes lie prove evil post read add republican candidate donald trump honest man care deeply country ads appear aim set clash hot-button issue one ad group call heart texas promote rally houston may 21 2016 stop islamization u.s. state another ad separate facebook page promote pro-islam rally time venue russian government deny attempt sway 2016 election u.s. president donald trump defeat clinton ads release u.s. house intelligence committee hear lawyers facebook twitter inc alphabet inc google testify russian influence network second straight day company attempt ward criticism lawmakers slow respond russian abuse facebook world large social media network come scrutiny lawmakers express frustration company role target market facebook general counsel colin stretch tell committee 16 million americans may expose russian information facebook picture-sharing service instagram begin october 2016. election nov. 8. additional four million may see material instagram october though data less complete stretch say instagram figure addition 126 million americans may see russian-backed political content facebook two-year period number company disclose early week company visit washington week reflect shift political fortunes u.s. tech industry decades relatively little regulatory scrutiny defensive range policy issue past election fail say democratic senator ron wyden normally consider strong ally silicon valley u.s. intelligence agencies conclude russia interfere campaign include social media try influence vote favor trump u.s. justice department special counsel several congressional panel investigate russian meddle potential collusion trump campaign trump say collusion moscow ahead election democrats republicans say wednesday senate intelligence hear tech company need police foreign government abuse platforms republicans however seek distance scrutiny question legitimacy trump election victory richard burr republican chairman panel say impossible measure impact know motivation russian operation spread political material social media conclusions trump benefit russia perhaps decisive way win white house ignore complexity issue burr say tell story simplify easily say republicans also seek portray amount russian content miniscule compare total amount political material online campaign trump clinton spend combine 81 million facebook ads stretch say compare 46,000 ad buy internet research agency suspect russian troll farm senator mark warner top democrat panel say disappoint company appear confine review information link internet research agency suggest could far undetected russian content senators criticize company send lawyers chief executives testify go exercise would appreciate see top people make decision say senator angus king independent u.s. lawmakers release sample russian-bought facebook ads