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Facebook must remove misinformation to ensure people don't use the platform to undermine the election.
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and prevent the platform from being used to influence election results. |
Facebook is already causing election chaos. In just the last few days, they’ve allowed ads to tens of thousands of voters in swing states telling them the wrong election date, as well as Spanish-language ads filled with misinformation and anti-Black dog whistles.1,2 Too much is at stake in this election. Facebook must do their job and make sure the platform isn’t used to suppress our votes or drive right-wing violence against our communities.
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and cut off voter-manipulating misinformation.
To make matters worse, last week, Senate Republicans held a sham hearing with Mark Zuckerberg and the other Big Tech CEOs in an attempt to bully tech companies into allowing more election misinformation on their platforms.3 With Election Day less than 24 hours away, and millions of early ballots already being cast, we can’t afford for Facebook to bow to pressure to make it easier for people to spread misinformation. Removing misinformation is necessary to protect our democracy. Here’s what Facebook still needs to do to make sure the platform doesn’t accelerate the spread of misinformation:
- Ban events, groups, paid ads and organic content that incite violence either directly, or with coded language;
- Pause group recommendations until the election results are certified;
- Demote the top 100 misinformation super-spreader groups on the platform;
- Provide fact-checked corrections and alert those who’ve been exposed to viral misinformation;
- Hire, support, and adequately train more in-house content moderators so that we do not have to keep doing Facebook's moderation job for them; and,
- Provide resources and training to staff to stop the similar spread of viral Spanish-language disinformation, particularly disinformation that contains anti-Black and racist tropes.
Facebook has gotten away with not doing their job for long enough. And when they don’t do their job, the platform is used to commit violence against us and contribute to the destruction of our democracy.
Tell Facebook #DoYourJob and stop the spread misinformation that’s influencing our election.
Until justice real,
—Jade, Rashad, Arisha, Johnny, Amanda, Marie, Gabrielle, Evan, Imani, Taurjhai, Stasia, Eesha, Samantha, Jennette, Ciera, Marcus, FolaSade, and the rest of the Color Of Change team
References:
- “Trump campaign places Facebook ads telling users wrong election day,” Financial Times, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/279555?t=8&akid=47725%2E4731121%2Ejf_qrd
- “False Political News in Spanish Pits Latino Voters Against Black Lives Matter,” The New York Times, October 21, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/279556?t=10&akid=47725%2E4731121%2Ejf_qrd
- “The Latest Tech Hearing Is About Helping Trump on Election Day,” Slate, October 28, 2020, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/279557?t=12&akid=47725%2E4731121%2Ejf_qrd
Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Please help keep our movement strong.
