In order to help protect the integrity of the upcoming U.S. Presidential election, Facebook announced additional restrictions on election-related advertising for both Facebook and Instagram , which are effective immediately.  In announcing the change, Rob Leathern, Director of Product Management at Facebook, said, "We also won't allow ads with content that seeks to delegitimize the outcome of an election." 

Facebook said that the following content won't be allowed in any advertising that targets the United States:

  • Ads that portray voting or census participation as useless or meaningless or that advise users not to vote or participate in a census.
  • Ads that delegitimize any lawful method or process of voting or voting tabulation (including in-person voting on paper or on machines, absentee voting, vote by mail, and lawful collection of ballots) as illegal, inherently fraudulent or corrupt, or will result in a fraudulent or corrupt election administration or outcome.
  • Ads that delegitimize an election or result as fraudulent or corrupt because the result can't be determined on the final day of voting or before ballots received after the final day of voting are lawfully counted.
  • Ads that claim voter fraud (such as voter impersonation, duplicate voting, or non-eligible individuals voting) is widespread or alters the outcome of elections or results in a fraudulent or corrupt election.
  • Ads that claim the election date or the mechanism for electing the President can be changed in ways not permitted by the Constitution or federal law.
  • Ads with premature claims of election victory.
  • Ads that are inconsistent with health authorities on voting safely

Facebook also announced that it is now prohibiting "anyone on our platform from running ads that praise, support or represent militarized social movements and QAnon." 

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