If the 2020 US Presidential Election results in chaos, Facebook says that it could possibly prevent content from circulating. The social media giant is reportedly preparing its response to potential Election Day violence.
Facebook Gets Ready for Election Day Chaos
According to a report by the Financial Times, Facebook vice president of global affairs and communications, Nick Clegg, commented that Facebook is ready to respond to a potentially unrestful presidential election. Clegg said that Facebook has some “break glass options” if things descend into chaos.
Although Clegg didn’t state any detailed measures that Facebook might take in case of a violent Election Day, he did say that the platform could “restrict the circulation of content should things get chaotic.” An anonymous source also told the Financial Times that Facebook is allegedly running through responses to 70 different election scenarios.
Clegg noted that Facebook has deployed similar restrictions in the past, particularly in countries with “real civic instability.” These comments were preceded by a similar remark made by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In a Facebook post, Zuckerberg noted that this year’s election “is not going to be business as usual.”
Besides potentially restricting content on Election Day, Facebook is taking other steps to secure the presidential election as well. The platform has already set a deadline for the approval of new political ads, and has also begun labeling ads connected to political outlets. Facebook was criticized for its handling of presidential elections in the past, and now it seems to be pulling out all the stops.
Facebook’s Response to the Presidential Election
To some, Facebook’s apparent measures to curb the chaos surrounding the election may seem a bit extreme. But to others, Facebook is doing what it takes to halt dangerous activity.
Either way, it’s important to realize that Facebook is known for influencing elections, as political analysts can use your data to a candidate’s advantage.
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