[NEWS] Facebook will ban ads that tell people in U.S. not to vote – Loganspace AI

(Reuters) – Facebook Inc will ban classified ads that discourage folks from voting earlier than the 2020 U.S. presidential election, in accordance with its 2nd annual Civil Rights Audit printed on Sunday.

Facebook pledged to avoid losing its fresh “don’t vote” policy prohibition into attain in the tumble, earlier than the 2019 U.S. elections on Nov. 5, Chief Running Officer Sheryl Sandberg stated in a weblog post asserting the file.

Last year, Facebook expanded its insurance policies against voter suppression by banning posts that unfold misinformation on voting techniques, election dates and cases, and polling locations. Those guidelines include banning intimidation tactics such as misrepresentations on whether votes will likely be counted.

The fresh “don’t vote” policy is in its developmental stages and the company is looking out for suggestion from voting organizations.

Facebook stated the policy is likely to most effective apply in the United States in its preliminary release and could perhaps well clean now now not include the policing of organic posts from customers.

Facebook stated it actually works proactively to eradicate malicious election-associated philosophize material. The corporate is now encompassing “stop now now not vote” classified ads in its efforts to ward off coordinated efforts to lead elections.

The social media giant has been historic to unfold misinformation about outdated elections.

U.S. intelligence companies recount there became an intensive Russian cyber-affect operation during the 2016 campaign aimed at serving to President Donald Trump obtain elected. Russia has time and again denied the allegations.

“We serious about classified ads because there could be a focused suppose in them,” Facebook Public Policy Director Neil Potts stated. “We acknowledge it as a political tactic, which is a ways extra in accordance with voter suppression.”

Ads telling folks to “boycott the election” disproportionately focused African American Facebook customers, in accordance with Ian Vandewalker, senior council on the Brennan Heart for Justice.

The realm’s excellent social network additionally pledged to introduce a brand fresh misinformation policy in the tumble earlier than the 2020 U.S. Census, prohibiting misrepresentations of Census necessities or techniques, it stated.

Facebook began conducting the annual Civil Rights Audit in 2018 to home considerations from underrepresented communities and advocacy teams on its platform.

The corporate has arrive below scrutiny over its fingers-off potential to the philosophize material posted on its platform. It does now now not ban most forms of misinformation, as a replacement posting warnings downgrading misleading discipline cloth so it reaches fewer folks.

Russian affect on U.S. elections has sparked heavy criticism of Facebook; alternatively, it helped the company establish key tactics historic in misinformation campaigns.

Facebook space up its first war room in October 2018 to fight misinformation campaigns during the U.S. midterm elections. Identical war rooms had been space up this year in Brazil, India and Europe earlier than elections.

Facebook’s next Civil Rights Audit progress file is made up our minds to be released early next year.