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Democrats Ask FEC To Create New Rules To Keep Foreign Influence Off Social Media Ads (thehill.com)

Cristina Marcos reports via The Hill: Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday asked the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to establish new guidelines for online advertising platforms that would prevent foreign spending to influence U.S. elections. The move comes after Facebook provided information to Congress and special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the FBI's investigation into Russia's election interference, about Russian ad purchases during the 2016 campaign.

"The recent revelations that foreign nationals with suspected ties to the Russian government sought to influence the 2016 election through social media advertisements are deeply concerning and demand a response," 20 House and Senate Democrats wrote in the letter. "We are fast approaching the 2018 election cycle. As such, it is imperative the Federal Election Commission begin this effort in earnest," they wrote. CNN, which first reported on the Democrats' letter, cited Facebook sources saying they expect Congress may try to require disclaimers on online political ads in the future, similar to political television ads. The Democratic lawmakers suggested that any FEC guidance address how foreign actors can use corporate or nonprofit designations to avoid disclosing political spending; what advertisement platforms can do to prevent foreign campaign activity; and possible changes to disclosure standards for political advertisements.

10 of 195 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Too bad.... by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They're happy to invite in any immigrant who they think will vote Democrat. But heaven forbid a Russian conservative buy an ad.

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    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. And foreign owned corporations? by VeryFluffyBunny · · Score: 4, Insightful

    And how much influence do foreign owned corporations exert in the US election cycle through their unlimited and unaccountable spending on party political advertising and campaigning. Then there's the issue of such corporations' influence over law-making through lobbying. Fake news and hacking political parties email accounts are the least of the US's worries in this respect.

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    Debate is a form of harassment. Do not question my truth.
    1. Re:And foreign owned corporations? by Luthair · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I suggest listening to Planet Money's Rough Translation in Ukraine if you think that fake news isn't an issue.

  3. Re:Too bad.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Democrats don't seem to have a problem with the millions of dollars Hillary Clinton took from foreign governments.

  4. Ever notice.... by ckatko · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...how these discussions and articles and pundents never mention... China... in the list of foreign influences on the USA?

    It's not like China has ever directly involved themselves in our elections before...

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... ... shit.

  5. Re:Too bad.... by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Informative

    But heaven forbid a Russian conservative buy an ad.

    You know it's illegal for a foreign national to buy campaign ads in the US, right? Has been for a while now. For 45 years, to be exact. FECA was signed into law in 1972, by Richard M. Nixon.

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    You are welcome on my lawn.
  6. Dems are behind the curve again by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's been illegal for foreign nationals to purchase campaign ads for US elections since 1972. It's even illegal to sell campaign ads to foreign nationals (putting Facebook in some jeopardy in the event the Justice Department decides to enforce the law).

    The letter from Dems to the FEC is a request for information from the commission explaining how they're going to meet this legal obligation in regard to social media advertising.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Dems are behind the curve again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And yet George Soros has done it for the past 12 years. But that's ok because the money is laundered through the political committees.

      Let's not even get into the Clinton foundation that essentially took international bribes for US policy in all but name.

      And, I can't help but point out, once again you're just spewing DNC talking points. It's illegal for foreign nationals to advertise for political candidates. It is NOT illegal for foreign nationals to advertise for issues. Otherwise CAIR and the ADL leaders would have to be thrown in prison.

      Facebook advertised for the Russians - WHAT advertising remains to be revealed.

      Damn that pesky first amendment that you now loathe so much.

      And Hillary would've gotten away with it too if it weren't for those pesky Russians.

  7. Re:Too bad.... by skids · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think they are overspending on this thread. There's like 5 putin rogonosets to every one actual slashdotter who even bothered to open the thread.

  8. Re: Too bad.... by DNS-and-BIND · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You still don't get why Trump won. The sheer level of insufferable arrogance from upper-middle class liberals that dominate internet discussion is a massive reason why. A huge part of why nationalism (whether it's Trump or Brexit or populist parties Swedish Democrats in Sweden, Front Nationale in France, and others throughout Europe) is seeing such a surge in support is in opposition to the CONSTANT liberal circlejerking in the media and refusal to even consider that the working class isn't a bunch of idiotic, evil racists, but bases its vote on real world experiences that they go through and rational self interest.

    They are sick and tired of sneering upper middle class liberals scaremongering about anybody who isn't part of the political establishment and being called racists for wanting to maintain a national sovereignty and set of values.People are sick and tired of ad hominems being the dominant form of discourse from the left whenever issues relating to protecting our national borders and culture come up. They are sick and tired of their acquaintances screaming on Facebook UNFRIEND ME IF YOU SUPPORT TRUMP YOU RACIST BIGOT.

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    Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!