Twitter rolls out total ban on ads from political figures

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

Twitter Friday unveiled the details of a previously announced far-reaching global policy that bans campaign advertising as well as ads of any type from political figures and groups, and puts strict limits around other types of paid messaging that have a political dimension.

The move comes as social platforms in the United States are under intense scrutiny over their handling of political ads, set against the fraught 2020 presidential contest.

“Political reach should be earned and not bought,” said Vijaya Gadde, Twitter's head of legal and policy at Twitter during a press call — drawing a contrast with Facebook, which has rejected calls for a similar ban, contending that political advertising is an important element of free expression that benefits political challengers and grassroots campaigns.

Twitter is banning all ads that mention specific candidates, elections, or legislation. The ban on any advertising applies to campaigns, government officials, PACs and 501(c)(4) groups — that is, nonprofits designated for tax purposes as somehow promoting social welfare, a broad category covering groups spanning from the Sierra Club to Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2019/11/15/twitter-political-ads-071160

[BigOleDummy]

1. A good start

I have to hand it to Twitter for doing this, whatever their motivation. I quit Twitter about 6 months ago as it was nothing but a cesspool of rightwing memes and trolls. I know the trolls are going to still be there but if this decision stands AND IS ENFORCED I may consider going back. If only to give them an iota of support for doing the right thing. (And I really miss reading Tea Pain)

[LiberalLovinLug]

2. We need a new Craig ie. Craig's List to start another version of FaceBook

Someone not interested in profits in the billions. More interested in providing a service. Where they set it up to NOT track you, or your interests, and have a vigilant policy of not allowing fake political ads. Some silicon valley genius write a code to make it easy and seamless to transfer everything on your FaceBook account onto your new FacelessBook account. And like we leave conservatives with their fake Conservapedia, we can leave them FaceBook to turn it into a total cesspool.

[lagomorph777]

3. Facebook is the Crag's List of corruption.

Like in the days of all those sleazy Crag's List ads... Except Fuckerberg makes money on the sleaze.

[JohnnyRingo]

4. How does that figure when every tweet Trump makes...

...is from Donald Trump and I approved this message.