Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 28-08-2019

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Social media site Facebook says it would tighten its rules for political ad spending ahead of the 2020 US elections, requiring more information about who is paying for campaign messages.

AFP reports the move is the latest by platform to crack down on efforts to deceive or manipulate users after the social network admitted lapses in the 2016 election.

While Facebook has already begun requiring political advertisers to provide identification to confirm who they are and where they are located, the new policy requires more information to show they are registered with the US government.

In a blog post, Facebook says the new verification can be done by submitting a tax identification number or proof that the group is registered with the Federal Election Commission.

“People should know who is trying to influence their vote and advertisers shouldn’t be able to cover up who is paying for ads.”

Facebook says organisations that fail to submit the verification will see their ads “paused” by mid-October.