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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFacebook's Political Ad Ban Also Threatens Ability to Spread Accurate Information on How to Vote
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https://www.propublica.org/article/facebooks-political-ad-ban-also-threatens-ability-to-spread-accurate-information-on-how-to-vote
Facebook this week said it would bar political ads in the seven days before the presidential election. That could prevent dirty tricks or an October surprise and give watchdogs time to fact-check statements. But rather than responding with glee, election officials say the move leaves them worried.
Included in the ban are ads purchased by election officials secretaries of state and boards of elections who use Facebook to inform voters about how voting will work. The move effectively removes a key communication channel just as millions of Americans will begin to navigate a voting process different from any theyve experienced before.
Every states elections office has a very small communications office that is doing everything that they can to get the word out about the election, said Gabe Rosenberg, the communications director for Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill (who is not related to this reporter). This just makes it a little bit harder, for, as far as I can see, no real gain.
The rule change was announced Thursday in a Facebook post by the sites CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. Previously, Facebooks rules for fact-checking certain campaign ads but not others have come under fire. Taken together, they demonstrate how Facebook has become an integral piece of the American democratic process but one that is controlled by the decisions of a private corporation, which can set rules in its own interest.
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Facebook's Political Ad Ban Also Threatens Ability to Spread Accurate Information on How to Vote (Original Post)
Nevilledog
Sep 2020
OP
RockRaven
(14,950 posts)1. Anyone surprised?
Really?
Nevilledog
(51,055 posts)2. I'm firmly in the Facebook is evil camp, so I don't find it surprising.
canetoad
(17,148 posts)3. That sounds like a line
Straight from FB defenders. Like, how many MAGATs are convinced by 'accurate information'.
KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)4. I just assumed that was the point
The ban is intended to help Trump. My take on it.