Meta and Election Interference, Fake Abortion Clinics, and the Next Big Lie
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** CfA's May 10, 2024 Newsletter
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With your support, Campaign for Accountability is working to expose corruption and hold the powerful accountable.
** This Week's Updates:
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Facebook Black Market for Ad Accounts Looms Over India Election
This week, CfA’s Tech Transparency Project published a report ([link removed]) revealing a thriving market for fake and stolen accounts on Facebook, even though the platform claims to forbid ([link removed]) such behavior. TTP’s investigation focused on large Facebook groups that were being used to sell accounts registered to run political advertisements in India, which is already struggling to prevent AI disinformation ([link removed]) from tainting its ongoing general election. Meta claims ([link removed]) to hold political advertisements to a higher standard around the world, touting an “authorization process” for political messaging that is supposed to create transparency for users and
reveal who paid for an advertisement. In practice, Facebook itself is hosting groups where individuals claim to sell ([link removed]) “Indian verified” accounts, including screenshots as proof of their ability to run ads on politics, elections, and social issues. By purchasing one of these accounts, an advertiser could completely subvert Meta’s transparency requirements and spread disinformation without linking it to their identity.
TTP did not contact sellers to verify that these offers were real. However, Forbes journalists Sarah Emerson and Emily Baker White were able to obtain a Facebook account from a seller in November 2022, while covering ([link removed]) an earlier TTP report ([link removed]) regarding this black market. TTP’s latest investigation was covered by The Washington Post ([link removed]) , which was able to contact an individual claiming to sell ad-enabled accounts. He informed the reporter that his buyers were using them to run political ads in India.
Idaho Statesman Digs into CfA’s Crisis Pregnancy Center Complaints
On Tuesday, the Boise-based Idaho Statesman published an article ([link removed]) discussing CfA’s recent complaints ([link removed]) regarding the deceptive tactics used by anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs) in five different states—including one in Idaho. While their messaging differed slightly, each CPC made misleading claims about privacy protections by implying to clients that any sensitive health information shared with the centers would be protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). CfA’s Idaho complaint ([link removed]) focused on a nonmedical facility called the Sage Women’s Health Center, which frequently alluded to HIPAA protections in client-facing materials. Yet, Sage’s less
conspicuously-placed Privacy Policy ([link removed]) informs clients that the center is not required to comply with HIPAA, because it does not bill for its services. “HIPAA is sort of a shorthand for protection of your data,” CfA Executive Director Michelle Kuppersmith told the Statesman. “People see that and they think it means that their data can’t be shared.” In reality, many CPCs appear to be free to share client information with third parties, including law enforcement officials in states where abortion has been criminalized.
True the Vote Pushes Noncitizen Voting Conspiracy Theories
In April, the election denial group True the Vote (TTV) launched an initiative called “The 611 Project,” named after the statute that forbids non-citizens from voting in federal elections. Like TTV’s earlier claims of “ballot stuffing ([link removed]) ,” the project is based entirely on a conspiracy theory touted by TTV’s leaders; this time, they claim that the Biden Administration has “weaponized all agencies of the federal government” to push fraudulent voter registration by migrants. TTV produced a handbook ([link removed]) to accompany The 611 Project, which a recent Talking Points Memo fact-check ([link removed]) described as being “riddled with errors.” Unfortunately, TTV doesn’t need real evidence of voter fraud to infl
uence law enforcement officials and spread disinformation. Just this week, a leaked trove of messages ([link removed]) revealed that TTV’s senior leaders collaborated with QAnon influencers to compile “evidence” against Konnech, an election software company. This scheme eventually culminated with the arrest ([link removed]) of Konnech’s owner, though the charges were dropped ([link removed]) .
In 2023, CfA urged the IRS ([link removed]) to investigate TTV for improperly funneling money to senior employees of the organization, which operates as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3). CfA also filed a complaint ([link removed]) regarding illegal political activity undertaken by TTV, which declared itself a “partner” of the Georgia Republican Party.
What We're Reading
About 800,000 BetterHelp online therapy customers receive refund notices ([link removed])
Ex-Nebraska Lawmaker Faces New Charges in Campaign Finance Case ([link removed])
Pro-Trump Nonprofit Paid Millions to Companies Tied to Its Own Leaders ([link removed])
** Follow Our Work:
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We thank you for your continued support. Without people like you, our work would not be possible.
Here is how you can stay involved and help us accomplish our mission:
1. Follow CfA on Threads ([link removed]) and BlueSky ([link removed])
2. Follow the Tech Transparency Project on Threads ([link removed]) and Bluesky ([link removed])
3. Tell your friends and colleagues ([link removed]) about CfA.
4. Send us a tip ([link removed]) .
5. Make a tax-deductible donation ([link removed]) .
Be on the lookout for more updates about our work in the upcoming weeks. Thanks again for signing up to be a part of CfA!
Sincerely,
Michelle Kuppersmith
Executive Director, Campaign for Accountability
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