Open letter to Google, Facebook and Twitter in response to Gizmodo article “Google, Facebook, and Twitter Tell Biden Campaign They Won't Remove Defamatory Trump Ad”

“Google, Facebook, and Twitter Tell Biden Campaign They Won't Remove Defamatory Trump Ad”
https://gizmodo.com/google-facebook-and-twitter-tell-biden-…

I just saw the various platform responses refusing to remove a false and misleading ad regarding Joe Biden and his family which was placed by the Trump campaign.

Although it is easy to appreciate that Facebook, Google, Twitter and others are not directly responsible for the truthfulness of ads run on their services, it is also inappropriate for anyone to do nothing when damaging falsehoods are clear. The perpetrators of false advertising are exploiting the credibility of platforms. Equally, lies foisted on the public with the apparent complicity of internet platforms, intentionally or not, degrades the public trust in all online content.

Platforms can take a few simple steps to fulfill a basic obligation to users, in order to contextualize the ads in question, and to facilitate possible correction of the problem.

1) A disclaimer placed on all political advertising warning the audience that the content has not been reviewed for accuracy and may contain misleading information.

2) All advertising submissions should require that the originator aver that, to the best of their knowledge, the content they are providing is correct and truthful, and if found to be wrong, will correct the ad, or not object to its removal.

3) A warning that repeated submission of false and misleading ads may result in banning of the advertiser, product or sponsor.

4) An advisory that all false ads will be reported to appropriate regulatory and law enforcement agencies.

The problem with manipulation of the 2016 election was not just that the public was manipulated by foreign governments, agencies, individuals or agents, but that that the U.S. population was manipulated at all. The abuse of internet advertising and platforms during an election for political gain, regardless of political affiliation, is just wrong. The U.S. voters learned a lot in the wake of the 2016 election. Did Silicon Valley?