Facebook Wants to Protect You Ahead of the Elections
Facebook (FB) - Get Report wants to protect you ahead of the November elections.
The social network giant on Thursday announced a series of measures to boost voter registration, reduce misinformation and interference with the 2020 presidential elections.
Specifically, Facebook said it will not accept new political ads the week before the election, remove posts that claim people will get coronavirus if they vote, and attach "authoritative information" about the coronavirus to posts that might use Covid-19 and the pandemic to discourage voting.
Facebook said it will also attach an informational label to content that tries to delegitimize the outcome of the election or discuss the legitimacy of voting methods, such as claiming that lawful methods of voting will lead to fraud.
"This election is not going to be business as usual. We all have a responsibility to protect our democracy," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a statement. "That means helping people register and vote, clearing up confusion about how this election will work, and taking steps to reduce the chances of violence and unrest."
Facebook has been widely criticized for how it handles misinformation around elections and other matters, in particular during the 2016 presidential election, in which posts and groups from outside the U.S. proactively sought to influence voters.
Latest Videos From TheStreet and Jim Cramer:
- Why Exxon's Job Cuts Are 'A Sign of the Times'
- Coronavirus Update: Vaccine News From Sanofi and Novovax
- Macy's Thanksgiving Wish: A Strong Holiday Shopping Season
- ADP Payroll Report Shows Companies in No Rush to Re-Hire
- Which Companies Could Jim Cramer See in the Dow in 100 Years?
- Why 52 Black Former Franchisees Are Suing McDonald's
