Facebook to Reject Political Ads Prematurely Claiming US Election Victory

Facebook is not going to settle for political advertisements that search to declare victory earlier than the outcomes of the 2020 US election are declared, an organization spokesman tweeted on Wednesday.

The transfer expands the corporate’s plans, introduced earlier this month, to cease accepting new political advertisements within the week earlier than the election. At the time, Facebook stated political advertisers might resume creating new advertisements after Election Day.

Democrats have warned of a “red mirage” on election night time, citing anticipated delays in counting a file variety of mail-in ballots this 12 months, and raised issues that President Donald Trump might use Facebook to persuade folks he had received.

Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has articulated related issues about confusion seemingly to observe the election if outcomes aren’t instantly clear.

In his announcement final month, he stated Facebook was planning to append labels to posts that attempt to declare victory prematurely or deligitimise the end result of the election.

The firm will contemplate election outcomes “declared” as soon as they’re introduced through Reuters and the National Election Pool, which have partnered with Facebook to provide dwell election outcomes, the spokesman, Andy Stone, stated in a subsequent tweet.

Election officers have taken subject with that method, noting that counting ballots can typically take weeks even in regular election years, with out the added pressures of the coronavirus pandemic.

Facebook didn’t instantly reply to a query about whether or not the brand new rule would apply to all elections set to happen on November three or solely the US presidential election.

© Thomson Reuters 2020

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