Politics

Protesters again gather at Facebook to urge fact checking of political ads

by Linda Hubbard Gulker on January 18, 2020

Facebook users, investors, and neighbors gathered outside the Menlo Park-based company headquarters late yesterday afternoon demonstraitng against the company’s refusal to fact-check political ads run on their site.

“We are unhappy with [Facebook’s] decision to not fact check their political ads on their platform,” emailed Laura Stec of Bay Area Action. “We expect Facebook to righten this course as we approach the 2020 presidential election.

“Moreover, a greater issue is facing society. A weakening of important standards such as truth and facts poison our democracy, discourse, media, and the body politic. As Fiona Hill, National Security professional for the Trump administration said during her Capital Hill testimony, ‘Do not propagate (political) disinformation. When you do, you are doing the work of Vladimir Putin.’

“Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions, but no one is allowed to have their own facts.

“In 2020, [we believe that Facebook] must pay up by either 1) fact-checking political ads being bought and broadcast across its site, or 2) eliminate political ads all together.”

Photo by Robb Most (c) 2020

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“Voting in the Primaries: What you need to know” is topic on Jan. 18

The Presidential Primary Election is March 3. Get election information, including how procedures in San Mateo County have changed since the last Presidential election on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Menlo Park Library.  

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M-A senior Holly Newman reflects on her time as a Senate Page

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Carol Mayer Marshall starts organization to help women get elected or appointed to office

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Spotted: Local youth on church mission trip visiting Anna Eshoo

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