To: Federal Election Commission, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Close this loophole: online political ad transparency
Americans have a right to know who is trying to influence their vote—whether hostile foreign nations like Russia, corporate front groups, or wealthy special interests.
Congress and the Federal Election Commission must enhance transparency rules for online political advertising, and to re-assess the legal landscape in the wake of Russia’s interference in American elections.
Congress and the Federal Election Commission must enhance transparency rules for online political advertising, and to re-assess the legal landscape in the wake of Russia’s interference in American elections.
Why is this important?
Every American has the right know who is trying to influence our elections and public policy.
That means new revelations that Russian agents covertly bought Facebook ads to influence the election should spark the passage of comprehensive and long overdue legislation requiring full disclosure of the people, businesses, and groups using online ads to influence our votes.
Our laws already require disclosure of the people and groups behind some of the political ads we receive in the mail or over the internet, as well as those we see on television, hear on the radio, and read in our newspapers and magazines. Candidates must personally vouch on the air for TV and radio ads placed by their campaign committees.
Unfortunately, however, there are plenty of gaps in the disclosure requirements. Conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity and liberal organizations like the House Majority PAC must put their names on the ads they sponsor, but the money that pays for the ads may be funneled to them through other nonprofit groups that are allowed to hide their donors.
Facebook’s announcement that it’s changing the way it handles political advertising is good news, but no cause for celebration.
Stung by stories about how the site sold political advertising to Russian interests last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled a self-regulation regimen that may quiet the social network’s critics and placate lawmakers alarmed about hidden foreign meddling in U.S. elections.
But while Zuckerberg’s maneuver may be good for Facebook’s bottom line, it falls far short of what Americans need to protect our elections. Rather than placating Congress and the public, it should spark the passage of comprehensive and long overdue legislation requiring full disclosure of the people, businesses, and groups using online ads to influence our votes.
Our elected leaders have an obligation to put country over party and strengthen the resiliency of our democracy. Please add your name today.
That means new revelations that Russian agents covertly bought Facebook ads to influence the election should spark the passage of comprehensive and long overdue legislation requiring full disclosure of the people, businesses, and groups using online ads to influence our votes.
Our laws already require disclosure of the people and groups behind some of the political ads we receive in the mail or over the internet, as well as those we see on television, hear on the radio, and read in our newspapers and magazines. Candidates must personally vouch on the air for TV and radio ads placed by their campaign committees.
Unfortunately, however, there are plenty of gaps in the disclosure requirements. Conservative groups like Americans for Prosperity and liberal organizations like the House Majority PAC must put their names on the ads they sponsor, but the money that pays for the ads may be funneled to them through other nonprofit groups that are allowed to hide their donors.
Facebook’s announcement that it’s changing the way it handles political advertising is good news, but no cause for celebration.
Stung by stories about how the site sold political advertising to Russian interests last year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled a self-regulation regimen that may quiet the social network’s critics and placate lawmakers alarmed about hidden foreign meddling in U.S. elections.
But while Zuckerberg’s maneuver may be good for Facebook’s bottom line, it falls far short of what Americans need to protect our elections. Rather than placating Congress and the public, it should spark the passage of comprehensive and long overdue legislation requiring full disclosure of the people, businesses, and groups using online ads to influence our votes.
Our elected leaders have an obligation to put country over party and strengthen the resiliency of our democracy. Please add your name today.