The US says CEO must immediately address the threat of voter suppression and calls for violence.
Two US representatives have called on Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to act immediately to ensure fairness and security in the 2020 US elections
The actions will include “limiting suppression efforts by far-right, neo-Nazi and right-wing paramilitary groups,” who are using the social media platform to spread misinformation and hatred, just ahead of the U.S. presidential election, according to the letter from U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal and David Cicilline, published Monday.
The letter also points to recent comments by US President Donald Trumpthat he would use law enforcement to patrol polling locations – which advocates say is “voter intimidation designed to suppress voter turnout by people of color and Latino voters” – and his refusal to commit to peacefully leaving the White House if he is not re-elected, according to CNET.
“The president ’s actions have emboldened far-right extremists, neo-Nazis, right-wing militia groups and their supporters, who often turn to Facebook to spread rumors and misinformation about the election. The lack of coordinated action by the social media platform to address this threat to democracy is a serious concern.”
The letter asks Facebook to enforce policies prohibiting vote interference, immediately remove any posts, groups, and events that promote far-right violence, voter suppression, and misinformation. Ban nationalist and violent groups. Enforce a ban on any posts that encourage people to bring weapons to polling places, and hire experts to address far-right violence and hate groups.
