Social media sites have, in the past few years, played in outsize role in American elections. Facebook has constantly been criticized for not properly eliminating false information from their site. Company founder, Mark Zuckerberg has said that it is a matter of protecting free speech.
Another social media giant, Twitter, went in the opposite direction and announced it will ban all 2020 political ads. The decision by Twitter was almost immediately lauded by prominent Democrats and bemoaned by Trump campaign chief Brad Parscale.
Earlier this week, former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton slammed Facebook over their ad policy. She said the decision to allow disinformation was “appalling.”
The former Secretary of State, however, was quite pleased with Twitter’s announcement. Clinton wrote, “This is the right thing to do for democracy in America and all over the world. What say you, Facebook?”
This is the right thing to do for democracy in America and all over the world.
What say you, @Facebook? https://t.co/dRgipKHzUG
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 30, 2019
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been another prominent critic of the social media site. She was also very pleased with Twitter’s decision. The lawmaker wrote, “This is a good call. Technology – and social media especially – has a powerful responsibility in preserving the integrity of our elections. Not allowing for paid disinformation is one of the most basic, ethical decisions a company can make.”
This is a good call. Technology – and social media especially – has a powerful responsibility in preserving the integrity of our elections.
Not allowing for paid disinformation is one of the most basic, ethical decisions a company can make.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 30, 2019
Not everyone was thrilled with Twitter, though. Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale lamented, “Twitter bans political ads in yet another attempt by the left to silence Trump and conservatives. Wouldn’t be surprised if Twitter lifted the ban after 2020.”
Twitter bans political ads in yet another attempt by the left to silence Trump and conservatives. Wouldn’t be surprised if @twitter lifted the ban after 2020.
Statement: pic.twitter.com/4ZdHGJw3js
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) October 30, 2019
Parscale also included a statement that slammed the company for walking away from “hundreds of millions of dollars.”