After taking them down, Facebook restores Elizabeth Warren ads calling for breakup of Facebook
Not a great move. Facebook took down several Facebook ads published by Elizabeth Warren's team that called for the breakup of Facebook and other giant American tech companies.
After public outcry, Facebook restored the ads.
UPDATE: Facebook says its restoring the ads. "We removed the ads because they violated our policies against use of our corporate logo. In the interest of allowing robust debate, we are restoring the ads." - FB spox
- Cristiano Lima (@viaCristiano) March 11, 2019
From Cristiano Lima at Politico:
The ads, which had identical images and text, touted Warren's recently announced plan to unwind "anti-competitive" tech mergers, including Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram.
"Three companies have vast power over our economy and our democracy. Facebook, Amazon, and Google," read the ads, which Warren's campaign had placed Friday. "We all use them. But in their rise to power, they've bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field in their favor."
A message on the three ads reads: "This ad was taken down because it goes against Facebook's advertising policies."
A Facebook spokesperson confirmed the ads had been taken down and said the company is reviewing the matter. The person said, according to an initial review, that the removal could be linked to the company's policies about using Facebook's brand in posts.
Warren's campaign published about a dozen additional Facebook ads about her tech proposal, and these were reportedly not affected.
Read the rest: Facebook takes down Elizabeth Warren ads calling for breakup of Facebook
Facebook confirms it took down Elizabeth Warren's ads about Facebook, but is in the process of restoring them.
FB spox: "We removed the ads because they violated our policies against use of our corporate logo. In the interest of allowing robust debate, we are restoring the ads."
- Ryan Mac (@RMac18) March 11, 2019
Thanks to the good folks @facebook for demonstrating that they are, indeed, a monopoly that exercises unwarranted, undemocratic power and needs to be broken up https://t.co/Qfp7MUCrNK
- Luke Savage (@LukewSavage) March 11, 2019
And here's what the rejection looked like. @SenWarren pic.twitter.com/hpIU48SuAd
- Reveal (@reveal) March 11, 2019
Here are Facebooks terms of service around how you can mention "Facebook" in ads on the platform.
I've only seen some of the Warren ads, but the few that I've come across did not have the Facebook logo in them. pic.twitter.com/j88ajg8P1y
- Ryan Mac (@RMac18) March 11, 2019
In any case, this is another unnecessary headache for FB. A policy, which was ostensibly put in place for good reason, is interpreted without nuance, making it seem like Facebook is avoiding criticism about itself, while giving a presidential campaign the oxygen it craves.
- Ryan Mac (@RMac18) March 11, 2019
holy shit pic.twitter.com/dQsHfK4r16
- Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) March 11, 2019
There need to be congressional hearings on this. Now.
- Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) March 11, 2019