Facebook revises political ad rules

Facebook Inc. is tightening its rules on content concerning next month’s U. S. presidential election, including instituting a temporary ban on political ads after polls close, as it braces for a contentious night that may not end with a definitive winner.

The social media giant announced a handful of updates Wednesday to prepare for the possibility that f inal results won’t be known immediately Nov. 3. The suspension of political ads is similar to a plan Google already adopted in an effort to keep candidates and their campaigns from spreading misleading or confusing messages to voters.

The company will also take a more aggressive stand against posts that appear to threaten or intimidate voters. Facebook already forbids content that could cause real- world harm, but it is expanding its voter intimidation policy after President Trump and Donald Trump Jr. encouraged supporters to guard polling locations to look out for nefarious activity.

Facebook said in a blog post Wednesday that it would “also remove calls for people to engage in poll watching when those calls use militarized language or suggest that the goal is to intimidate, exert control, or display power over election officials or voters.” That includes calls to join an “army” or go to “battle,” Monika Bickert, Facebook’s head of global policy management, told reporters. Facebook said the ad ban should last at least a week.