This archive report was first published on 31 October 2019.
On October 30, 2019, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey made a bold move by announcing a ban on all political ads on the platform. The ban, which will take effect on November 22, 2019, aims to address the spread of misinformation and the impact on civic discourse.
According to Dorsey, the company was more comfortable letting people earn their reach, and paying to do so compromised that trade. He noted that commercial advertising was different and called political ads more dangerous since they 'can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions.'
Twitter's decision has sparked a debate about free speech and the role of social media in politics. Facebook, in particular, has been criticized for its targeted advertising and its potential to influence elections.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg responded to the news by reiterating his company's stance on political advertising. He argued that transparency and regulation were the keys to addressing the issue, rather than a blanket ban.
