Twitter pulls back on political ads, but pitfalls await
Posted October 31, 2019 7:00 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Twitter says it will ban political ads on its site - a move that could create unintended consequences for users and nonprofit groups.
The company says its policy change is a way to cut down on the flow of election-related misinformation.
But experts say up-and-coming political candidates may have a tougher time gaining traction without advertising. And some public interest nonprofits are concerned it will be harder to get their message out.
Facebook says it will not change its advertising policy, which allows politicians to post ads even if they contain lies.
Political advertising makes up a small sliver of Twitter's overall revenue.
FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2018, file photo Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in Washington. "While internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics, where it can be used to influence votes to affect the lives of millions," Dorsey said Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019, in a series of tweets announcing Twitters new policy of banning all political advertising from its service. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - This July 9, 2019, file photo shows a sign outside of the Twitter office building in San Francisco. Twitter is banning all political advertising from its service, saying social media companies give advertisers an unfair advantage in proliferating highly targeted, misleading messages. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.