This archive report was first published on 3 July 2019.
Facebook Inc has announced plans to ban ads that discourage people from voting ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The move comes as part of the company's second annual Civil Rights Audit, published on July 7, 2019.
According to the audit, Facebook will prohibit ads that tell people not to vote, with the new policy set to take effect in the fall before the 2020 U.S. elections. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg made the announcement in a blog post, stating that the company is committed to preventing voter suppression.
Facebook's decision to ban 'don't vote' ads is a significant step in the company's efforts to prevent voter suppression. The move follows the company's expansion of its policies against voter suppression last year, which included banning posts that spread misinformation on voting methods, election dates and times, and polling locations.
Facebook has faced criticism in the past for its handling of misinformation on its platform. However, the company has taken steps to address these concerns, including setting up a war room in 2018 to combat misinformation campaigns during the U.S. midterm elections.
Facebook's new policy is likely to only apply in the United States in its initial release and will not include the policing of organic posts from users. The company is seeking advice from voting organizations as it develops the policy.
U.S. intelligence agencies have alleged that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election, with Russia repeatedly denying the allegations. Facebook has acknowledged that its platform has been used to spread misinformation about previous elections.
Facebook Public Policy Director Neil Potts stated that the company focused on ads because they have a targeted component, which is more in line with voter suppression. Ads telling people to 'boycott the election' disproportionately targeted African American Facebook users, according to Ian Vandewalker, senior council at the Brennan Center for Justice.
Facebook has come under scrutiny for its hands-off approach to the content posted on its platform. However, the company has taken steps to address these concerns, including introducing a new misinformation policy ahead of the 2020 U.S. Census.
Facebook's next Civil Rights Audit progress report is set to be released early next year.
