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Facebook Quietly Hired Republican Strategy Firm Targeted Victory (techcrunch.com)

Posted by msmash on from the closer-look dept.

Facebook is still reeling from the revelation that it hired an opposition research firm with close ties to the Republican party, but its relationship with Definers Public Affairs isn't the company's only recent contract work with deeply GOP-linked strategy firms. TechCrunch reports: According to sources familiar with the project, Facebook also contracted with Targeted Victory, described as "the GOP's go-to technology consultant firm." Targeted Victory worked with Facebook on the company's Community Boost roadshow, a tour of U.S. cities meant to stimulate small business interest in Facebook as a business and ad platform. The ongoing Community Boost initiative, announced in late 2017, kicked off earlier this year with stops in cities like and Topeka, Kansas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. Facebook also worked with Targeted Victory on the company's ad transparency efforts. Over the last year, Facebook has attempted to ward off regulation from Congress over ad disclosure, even putting forth some self-regulatory efforts to appease legislators.

34 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. So What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Are they not supposed to work with whomever they want? Ridiculous.

    1. Re:So What? by AlanObject · · Score: 2, Informative

      Are they not supposed to work with whomever they want? Ridiculous.

      Not ridiculous when they manipulate elections against the law. Yes, some laws about that do still exist.

    2. Re:So What? by nwaack · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Are they not supposed to work with whomever they want? Ridiculous.

      Not ridiculous when they manipulate elections against the law. Yes, some laws about that do still exist.

      What are you trying to say? That they should only be allowed to work with liberal firms 'cuz ORANGE MAN BAD? Your post just sounds like a whole bunch of butthurt.

    3. Re:So What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      manipulate elections

      It might be possible to take claims of "manipulation" seriously if the claimants weren't being selective about which companies manipulation they're excited about, but when Google plays with search results to the benefit of (D)s everyone is expected to do whatever mental gymnastics are necessary to get that behavior into the "not manipulation" column. When Facebook grooms anything "conservatives" like from their potentially election impacting news feed we're told "private company shutup nazi" but let Facebook employ an (R) lobbyist firm and it's "oh shit eB1L corporates investigate them now11!!!....," all notion of private company magically gone.

    4. Re:So What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why did they lie about hiring the (retarded and fake) anti-Soros dirt firm? Maybe it's embarrassing to admit they're a BIG player in the fake news that Russians took advantage of illegally to influence the election for their pawn?

      Sandburg literally was the butthurt one, after Soros called FB a shit show on TV, so she decided they had to punch back. Then she lied about it Congress, along with Zuck. Lock them up next to Don Jr. Traitors all.

    5. Re:So What? by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

      There is no evidence that they broke any laws, nor is TFA even alleging any law breaking.

      But they DID work with people and organizations that also worked with Republicans. Isn't that egregious enough? I am certainly outraged.

    6. Re:So What? by Aighearach · · Score: 1

      Just keep waving your hands and insisting that you don't know that there are any rules. FREEZE PEACH!

      We're about halfway through right now, but the worst will be over as soon as the new Congress is sworn in.

    7. Re:So What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Are they not supposed to work with whomever they want? Ridiculous.

      Not ridiculous when they manipulate elections against the law. Yes, some laws about that do still exist.

      Why are you dragging Google into this?

      Google Employees Debated Burying Conservative Media In Search

      Google employees debated whether to bury conservative media outlets in the company’s search function as a response to President Donald Trump’s election in 2016, internal Google communications obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation reveal.

      The Daily Caller and Breitbart were specifically singled out as outlets to potentially bury, the communications reveal.

      Trump’s election in 2016 shocked many Google employees, who had been counting on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to win.

      Communications obtained by TheDCNF show that internal Google discussions went beyond expressing remorse over Clinton’s loss to actually discussing ways Google could prevent Trump from winning again.

      Yes, just because PMSNBC embargoes this story, it must be false.

    8. Re:So What? by tsqr · · Score: 1

      Lying to Congress is illegal, derp.

      You're right. Now, point to where the TFA says they lied to Congress. Oops.

    9. Re:So What? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      They are hiring PR firms to try to bullshit Congress and the public about their data handling.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  2. And??? by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Why is this a story? It hardly qualifies as news for nerds or stuff that matters. It just seems like an attempt by editors to foment flamebait material.

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  3. How Dare They by Jarwulf · · Score: 4, Interesting

    They should only work with Strategy firms that cater only to Democrats. Also, the point of this is to insinuate this somehow means Facebook is conservative despite all the evidence to the contrary.

    1. Re:How Dare They by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

      Money talks. And the Zuck only cares about the buck.

      --
      Life is not for the lazy.
    2. Re:How Dare They by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      The logic is irrefutable: the other party is evil (Hitler, racist, or unchristian), so by working with evil people, Facebook is at a minimum marking themselves, and there's a good chance they've become evil themselves.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    3. Re:How Dare They by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They should only work with Strategy firms that cater only to Democrats.

      No, public companies should be apolitical. Citizens United is how we are in this mess. You may be fine being a happy slave for the new robber barons of the Information Age, but I do not intend to be a slave.

      Also, the point of this is to insinuate this somehow means Facebook is conservative despite all the evidence to the contrary.

      This fallacy of false dichotomy is part of the propaganda. So-called conservatives and fake liberals like to use it to divide us. And the media eats it up because it attracts eyeballs. We the people no longer hold political leaders, business executives, or journalists accountable and they know it!

    4. Re:How Dare They by alvinrod · · Score: 2

      It seems kind of silly, but this is the silicon valley tech press. Half of the staff are aspire to be left of Marx, so it's not weird that they would act this way. Facebook is supposed to be a progressive company, so how dare they associate with a company that has associated with their enemy.

      This line of thinking is totally consistent with their beliefs.

    5. Re:How Dare They by Vitriol+Angst · · Score: 1

      I know the reflex is to say; "both sides" whenever your team looks bad. But this is evidence of one side being directly used as evidence of both sides -- you skipped a step.

      Go ahead get all the bad faith actors because I'm happy not having anyone manipulated by propaganda. But somehow this is an excuse to do nothing?

      --
      >>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"
    6. Re:How Dare They by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      But somehow this is an excuse to do nothing?

      About what? And what are they supposed to do?

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    7. Re:How Dare They by Atrox+Canis · · Score: 1

      "Also, the point of this is to insinuate this somehow means Facebook is conservative despite all the evidence to the contrary." No, faggot, the point is Sandburg lied and Zuck covered it up. Both are guilty of lying to Congress.

      If you're such a butt-hurt partisan pain in the faggot ass that you have to make yourself the "real victim" in every scenario, we're just going to lock you up next to Don Jr. and let you really suffer for a while.

      Your comment would seem to indicate you have some special hatred for "faggot"s. You must be a Republican. How dare you soil this forum with your frothing hate speech.

      --
      Charter Member of The Committee Group For The Elimination And Eradication Of Repetitive Redundancy
    8. Re:How Dare They by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      WTF Soros is not 'pro liberty'. He's an American 'liberal'.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    9. Re:How Dare They by Z80a · · Score: 1

      Yes, let's not hire the company that did something as insane as electing Trump.

  4. Right by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 2, Funny

    Right ... Facebook is on Republican's side, lol.

    It's just so obvious. I knew it the second they introduced their 53 genders. Dead giveaway.

    1. Re:Right by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Read the summary and thought "I bet this was posted by msmash". Wasn't disappointed.

      Msmash seems to think even working with someone aligned with the GOP should be illegal. Yep, right now the Fonz is saying "And you thought I jumped the shark"

  5. They touched a Republican! by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Funny

    Unclean! Unclean!

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  6. Facebook hired non-democrats! Great! Scott! by x0 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Which does that fit under? News for nerds or 'stuff that matters'?

    All /. is good for now are editorialized political posts masquerading as 'news', global warming/climate change stories, and the socialist ramblings about Bad Capitalism(tm).

    This place peaked with SCO and Groklaw...

    m

    --
    In the immortal words of Socrates, who said; 'I drank what?'
    1. Re:Facebook hired non-democrats! Great! Scott! by nwaack · · Score: 2

      I do miss making fun of SCO and Darl on /. Those really were the good old days.

    2. Re:Facebook hired non-democrats! Great! Scott! by fredrated · · Score: 1

      And yet here you are, reading and posting.

    3. Re:Facebook hired non-democrats! Great! Scott! by Holi · · Score: 1

      I remember a time when Slashdot kept away from political subjects.

      --
      Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
    4. Re:Facebook hired non-democrats! Great! Scott! by nwaack · · Score: 1

      I remember a time when Slashdot kept away from political subjects.

      Then MSMASH got hired.

  7. Private company by Tailhook · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Last I heard Facebook is a private company. When Facebook was grooming supposedly "conservative" news items out of their news feed I was told repeatedly that it's their news feed and they can manipulate it however they wish because it's a private company.

    Well, guess what; private companies are allowed to hire (R) PR firms and (R) lobbying firms.

    --
    Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
  8. Who else would they hire? by MattBear · · Score: 1

    It was a tour to "stimulate small business interest in Facebook", sounds like a very right wing endeavor. If it was a tour to promote "free shit to entitled schmucks", I'm sure it would of been a left wing leaning agency.

  9. The Fairness Doctrine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What is needed is a return to the Fairness Doctrine, in which all sides of the political debate get equal treatment by the media.

    Sadly, the FCC abolished it in 1987. http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1880786,00.html

  10. msmash showing true colors, once again by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Partisan hack! Seriously? We're supposed to believe that Facebook is now CONSERVATIVE and unfairly biased towards liberals?! LOL!!!1

  11. Maturity by hdyoung · · Score: 1

    It took a while but the next generation of tech companies are all grown up. Amazon moving into DC and NYC (political and financial centers of power) and now Facebook buying influence.

    Don't get me wrong. It doesn't make me mad. Natural progression of a companies growth.