Crackdown on social media 'dark ads' must be 'robust and deliver transparency'
May 5, 2019NEWS FROM OPEN KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION
EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE
CRACKDOWN ON SOCIAL MEDIA ‘DARK ADS’ MUST BE ‘ROBUST AND DELIVER TRANSPARENCY’
UK Ministers will this week announce plans for a crackdown on ‘dark ads’ on social media to prevent interference in elections, it has been reported. The Sunday Times states that all online political adverts will be required to explicitly show who made them.
Catherine Stihler, chief executive of the Open Knowledge Foundation, said: “These reforms must be robust to rebuild voters’ trust in social media and they must deliver full transparency. “While the digital world has transformed our lives in a positive way, it has also allowed the spread of disinformation and the dismissal of basic facts. “It is imperative that we do not allow fake news to blight this month’s European Parliamentary elections or any future elections. “Digital advertising is a key influence on our political world, and countries across Europe and the world must recognise the vital need for greater transparency.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/dark-ad-crackdown-to-end-poll-meddling-hrb6wvnq3
Contact: Alan Roden at [email protected] or +44 (0)7753 904 531
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