Facebook bans political ads after end of voting on US election day
- Social media firm tightens rules in preparation for contentious night that may not end with definitive winner emerging in contest between Trump and Biden
- Facebook will also notify users if a candidate tries to claim a win prematurely, before votes have been officially tallied
Facebook is tightening its rules on content concerning the US presidential election next month, including instituting a temporary ban on political ads when voting ends, as it braces for a contentious night that may not end with a definitive winner.
The social media company announced a handful of updates Wednesday to prepare for the possibility that final results will not be known immediately on November 3.
The suspension of political ads is similar to a plan Google already adopted in an effort to keep candidates and their campaigns from spreading misleading or confusing messages to voters. Facebook does not fact-check political ads.
The company will also take a more aggressive stand against posts that appear to threaten or intimidate voters. Facebook already forbids content that could cause real world harm, but is expanding its voter intimidation policy after President Donald Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr, have encouraged their supporters to guard polling locations to look out for nefarious activity.
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Trump vs Biden: The 2020 US presidential election
“We need every able-bodied man [and] woman to join Army for Trump’s election security operation,” Trump Jr said on a video posted online last month. “We need you to help us watch them,” he added, referring to Democratic voters.
Facebook said in a blog post on Wednesday that it will “also remove calls for people to engage in poll watching when those calls use militarised language or suggest that the goal is to intimidate, exert control, or display power over election officials or voters”.