but that has not stopped Beijing using both platforms

to advance its own agenda, whether that

is by taking out accounts for its own officials

or by simply paying for advertising.

But in recent months, as pro-democracy protests

in Hong Kong have ramped up, both Twitter and Facebook

say they have seen the use of their platforms

for something more sinister.

Both companies say they have noticed co-ordinated attempts

by the government in Beijing to spread disinformation

about the protests and to undermine their legitimacy.

Twitter says it has taken down 936 accounts,

which it said originated from mainland China

and were involved in attempting to spread fake news

about the Hong Kong protests.

Facebook, meanwhile, has taken down 15 pages, groups,

and individual accounts which it says

were associated with Beijing and focused on Hong Kong.

These are the latest in a series of steps both companies have

taken to combat the spread of disinformation and state-backed

attempts to use their services for propaganda.

Both companies know that taking such action

and publicising it will be crucial

if they are to recover their reputations following the 2016

US presidential elections.

But more importantly, with just over a year

until the next presidential elections,

both companies also know they will soon

be under more scrutiny than ever before.