Facebook is reportedly considering a 'blackout' on political ads in the days running up to the US presidential election

Rob Price

July 10, 2020 8:39 PM

Facebook is considering a "blackout" on political advertising in the run-up to the US election in November, according to Bloomberg.

It would be a first for Facebook, which has faced intense criticism over its policies on political advertising and hate speech in recent months.
Facebook hasn't yet officially decided whether it will introduce the ban, and it's not yet clear precisely how long it might last.

Facebook is reportedly contemplating a "blackout" on political ads in the run-up to the US presidential election.

According to a new report from Bloomberg on Friday , the Silicon Valley-based social-networking giant might place a ban on all political advertising in the "days" prior to hotly contested election, though the company has not yet made a final decision.

It's not clear precisely how long the timeframe might be beyond "days," and a company spokesperson did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Facebook has faced intense criticism over its stance on political advertising as the election approaches, with critics and even some employees calling for the company to reverse its decision not to fact-check political advertising, arguing it can spread misinformation. The company is also currently grappling with an unprecedented advertiser boycott over its policing of hate speech on the platform.

A political-ad blackout would be a first for Facebook, but some countries already place varying restrictions on political campaigning or political reporting in the run-up to elections, including the UK, Spain, and Israel.

This story is developing...

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