Ireland - Facebook Bans Foreign Ads For Controversial Abortion Referendum

The social media giant Facebook is trying to clean up its act as it came under fire in the British isles over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. First place to start applying new terms and conditions and make sure that it stays out of trouble: the Irish abortion referendum.

In a controversial move, Facebook said it would no longer allow any foreign company outside of Ireland to purchase advertisements able to influence the result that could be shown on its site. Some competitors of Facebook interpret this latest move as an acceptance that on previous occasions, advertisement on Facebook were able to influence political outcomes.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Facebook bans foreign ads, citing concerns about meddling in Irish abortion referendum - CNET: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ai</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/deeplearning?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#deeplearning</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iot?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iot</a> copy <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeQuindazzi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mikequindazzi</a> <a href="https://t.co/YG47jN6t0F">https://t.co/YG47jN6t0F</a> <a href="https://t.co/bn0sViQ8Gs">pic.twitter.com/bn0sViQ8Gs</a></p>&mdash; Chuck Bower (@Chuck_Microsoft) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chuck_Microsoft/status/993993780926676992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The company said in a statement: "As part of our efforts to help protect the integrity of elections and referendums from undue influence, we will begin rejecting ads related to the referendum if they are being run by advertisers based outside of Ireland."

"We understand the sensitivity of this campaign and will be working hard to ensure neutrality at all stages."

Related coverage: https://thegoldwater.com/news/22001-Ireland-Mass-Protests-Over-Rugby-Rape-Trial

"Our goal is simple: to help ensure a free, fair and transparent vote on this important issue."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Facebook will no longer allow ads from outside of Ireland on the Irish abortion referendum. Vote is in two weeks. <a href="https://t.co/QAKthnTYo2">https://t.co/QAKthnTYo2</a> <a href="https://t.co/xsc0KAieix">pic.twitter.com/xsc0KAieix</a></p>&mdash; Donie O&#39;Sullivan (@donie) <a href="https://twitter.com/donie/status/993829905543688192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2018</a></blockquote>

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In just two weeks’ time, on May 25, Irish voters will be able to finally decide whether to change the eighth amendment to Ireland's constitution, a highly controversial topic in a deeply Catholic country.

In the past few years, Facebook stood accused of having used it’s platform to influence voting in Britain's Brexit referendum of 2015 as well as the 2016 US presidential election, although definite proof has never been presented.

Source:

https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/abortion-referendum-ireland-facebook-ban-12501434