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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.

15 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.

  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 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!

    2. 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.

  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.

  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. 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