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This Week's Updates:
TTP Finds Boogaloo Bois on Facebook (Again)
On Wednesday, CfA’s Tech Transparency Project (TTP) contributed to an in-depth Vice report on the return of the Boogaloo Bois, a radical militant group that aims to overthrow the U.S. government. The movement originally gained steam on Facebook, where they created pages to coordinate armed protests and recruit new members. Boogaloo groups retreated underground after an FBI crackdown, while Meta classified the Boogaloo Bois as a “dangerous organization” and attempted to purge them from its platform. Unfortunately, Meta didn’t finish the job.
Working with Vice, TTP identified a pro-Boogaloo Facebook group that has attracted over 100,000 followers and added thousands more over the course of a few weeks. Using this group as a recruiting tool, Boogaloo members shared links and QR codes to split users into smaller cohorts, easily evading Meta’s automatic detection tools. In 2020, Facebook pages allowed Boogaloo Bois to build capacity and facilitate real-world meetups; instead of learning from that experience, Meta has allowed history to repeat itself.
Revisiting Deceptive Rooftop Solar Companies
Across the country, Attorneys General’s offices have been inundatedwithcomplaints about the deceptive marketing and sales practices used by rooftop solar companies. Homeowners are offered deals that sound too good to be true and promise a massive return on investment through energy savings and the value of the panels themselves. CfA has focused on this issue for years, and has urged the FTC to investigate solar companies for running misleading ads on Facebook. As changes to federal funding and zoning laws make it easier to install solar panels, steps should be taken to protect consumers from harmful business practices that leave them worse off, and with none of the savings they were promised.
FEC Allows Candidates to Spend Campaign Dollars on Personal Expenses
Under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, candidates for federal office are not allowed to use funds from their campaign accounts for personal expenses. For years, these restrictions have been flouted by candidates who transferred campaign funds to leadership PACs (LPACs), where the money can then be spent on anything from vacations and fine dining to private jets. In a ruling last week, the FEC definitively voted to exempt LPACs from personal use prohibitions, giving candidates a green light to collect money from their supporters with no intention of even spending it on a campaign. While the ruling may not be surprising, it’s a blow to the integrity of the entire campaign finance system that could, eventually, reduce the confidence of donors.
