Facebook lets US users block political adverts
Social media giant says it wants to protect 2020 presidential election from disinformation campaign
FACEBOOK and Instagram users will be able to opt out of seeing political adverts in the run-up to the US election, the company has confirmed as it aims to better protect the electorate before November’s vote.
Millions of Americans will also be encouraged to register to vote on their social media platforms thanks to a new “Voting Information Centre” that will be flagged up on feeds. The two new measures, confirmed today, are part of a concerted effort by Facebook – which also owns Instagram – to take steps to ensure disinformation cannot impact the election in 2020, as it did in 2016.
Other measures already being taken include blocking all adverts during the election campaign which come from state-controlled media organisations in overseas countries.
Sir Nick Clegg, the former Liberal Democrat leader who is now Facebook’s vice-president for global affairs and communications, outlines the changes in an article for today’s The Daily Telegraph.
“What happens in America – politically, economically, culturally – has a huge knock-on effect on the rest of the world,” Sir Nick writes. “It promises to be a heated campaign; and it will play out on social media as both sides seek to get their messages out and fire up voters. This means Facebook is under the spotlight as never before – and rightly so.
“In the absence of Government regulation, it has to decide for itself how to approach the complex issues around elections and social media. What Facebook does during this election is not only about the integrity of American elections, it is relevant to the rest of the world too.”
It comes as Facebook faces immense pressure to ensure American users are not targeted with disinformation in the 2020 presidential election campaign.
In the 2016 campaign – which thrust Donald Trump into power – it emerged that figures linked to the Russian government had spread misleading protrump adverts on the site.
In recent years, amid widespread calls for tighter government rules overseeing Facebook and other social media giants, the company has taken steps to defend its users.
More than 35,000 people are now working on safety and security issues, according to Facebook – three times as many as were doing so before the 2016 vote. Political adverts that are purchased must now have a “paid for by” disclaimer that informs users that the information is an advert rather than a spontaneous post.
Two new changes are being confirmed today by Facebook.
One will allow users to opt out of seeing political adverts. It comes into force in America shortly and in other nations later in the year.
The second has been dubbed a Voting Information Centre by the company and will encourage users to register to vote as well as provide information about how to vote.
Facebook has been criticised for failing to act over a comment by Mr Trump saying “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” in the context of recent antiracism protests.
Twitter took action, saying the post glorified violence, making it initially unavailable to users. Facebook, however, left the same comment posted on his Facebook page.
“Many people disagreed with the decision to allow President Trump’s recent posts to stay up,” Sir Nick, the former UK deputy prime minister, writes in his Telegraph article.
“It wasn’t a decision taken lightly – and I’m certain it won’t be the last controversial one between now and November,” adds Sir Nick. “But if people don’t like what President Trump or any other politician is saying, in the end the best response is not to censor them but to vote.”
‘What happens in America – politically, economically, culturally – has a knock-on effect on the rest of the world’