House Intelligence Committee to make public Russia-linked Facebook ads

The United States House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee will release the copies of Facebook ads purchased by Russian groups during the 2016 U.S. presidential race.

The leaders of the committee reached an agreement to release the Russia-linked content after meeting with Facebook Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg.

"It will be released by our committee," CNN quoted Intelligence Committee ranking member Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) as saying to reporters.

Facebook had earlier turned over 3,000 Russian-linked ads to the intelligence committees but bristled at the notion of releasing them, citing the company's privacy policy.

Facebook, along with Twitter and Google, will next month testify before the House and Senate intelligence committees about Russia meddling in the presidential election.

Google and Twitter were also reportedly used by Russian groups in their efforts to meddle in the election.

However, the ads are expected to be released after the tech companies testify next month.

Russia's election meddling is being investigated by multiple congressional panels as well as an independent Justice Department probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller.