Facebook bans foreign abortion debate ads

FACEBOOK announced yesterday that it is banning foreign advertisements related to Ireland’s abortion referendum amid concerns that North Americans are trying to influence the result.

Irish voters will decide on May 25 whether to repeal a constitutional ban on abortion, in a divisive referendum that has drawn international attention.

Ireland bars political donations from abroad, but the law does not apply to social media advertising.

Us-based anti-abortion groups are among those who have bought online ads in Ireland during the campaign.

Facebook says it will now “begin rejecting ads related to the referendum if they are being run by advertisers based outside of Ireland”. “We understand the sensitivity of this campaign and will be working hard to ensure neutrality at all stages,” it said in a statement. “Our goal is simple: to help ensure a free, fair and transparent vote on this important issue.”

Facebook has tried to improve its transparency after revelations that Cambridge Analytica, the political consultancy, harvested users’ data to micro-target political ads to select groups during the 2016 US election.