A New York Bill introduced Tuesday by Democratic State Senators seeks to crack down on Fraudulent Political Attack Ads posted on Social Media.
The Bill comes amid a National Debate over Ads and Social Media Accounts on Facebook and Twitter that had sought to sway the Presidential Election. Facebook in September revealed it had sold $100,000 in Advertising to a Purchaser with ties to the Russian Government, some Paid with Rubles, and has since vowed to Institute Reforms in how Political Ads are Displayed.
This is a more State and Local Effort to Combat Misleading Attacks and other Information spread with Intent on Social Media. In recent years, Political Ads have Targeted Key Senate Districts from Groups with benign sounding Names.
Lawmakers also released a Letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg with Examples of how the Platform spread Misinformation in his Legislative District. “False, misleading, and anonymous advertisements mislead voters and harm our democracy–and it must end immediately,” Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-9th District) said. “Not another political ad should run on social media without voters knowing exactly who paid for it. It’s one thing to lie to a voter; it’s quite another to be able to do it anonymously, without any accountability. Political ads on television, in mail and new media platforms like Facebook should be transparent.”
The Bill, introduced by Kaminsky, would require Political Ads that appear on Social Media to State who Paid for them by expanding the definition of what constitutes a Political Advertisement. This would also cover Advertisements sent by Mail.
“Voter participation is at embarrassing lows because we make it too hard to participate in our democracy, and because dirty campaign tactics and fake news frustrate New Yorkers,” said Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-35th District).
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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