Dear friend,
There is so much at stake for all women this upcoming election. And we know that Donald Trump and his accomplices are working hard to suppress votes by opposing mail-in ballots and spreading lies about voting.1 Donald Trump has an accomplice : Facebook. The tech giant is profiting from over 500 ads that spread disproven claims about voter fraud and has refused to take them down.2
During the 2016 election, Facebook was critical in spreading disinformation and served as an avenue for Russia to influence the elections.3 We can't let it happen again. That's why we're joining a powerful coalition to demand that key oversight bodies investigate Facebook for profiting from voter suppression. But we all need to add our voices to send a strong message. Will you add your name to the petition?
Tell the Federal Trade Commission :
Investigate Facebook for voter suppression.
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Facebook claims it bans political ads that discourage people from voting. But deceptive, false, and misleading ads meant to keep people from the polls are allowed to flourish because Facebook exempts politicians' ads from any fact-checking whatsoever. This gives Donald Trump free reign to spread misinformation. Facebook is choosing profit over our voting rights, while allowing hate and white supremacy to thrive on its platform.
Other tech giants are bowing to pressure--Twitter finally started labeling false and violent tweets from Donald Trump, Reddit has banned hundreds of racist and misogynist forums, and Twitch removed Donald Trump. But Facebook has so far refused to change its policies.
Voter suppression is already a major problem without Facebook's help--Black and Latinx voters wait 45% longer to vote than white voters and in Florida Black and Latinx voters are more than twice as likely to have their mail-in ballots rejected.4 Kentucky closed thousands of polls.5 Lines in Atlanta wrapped around for blocks.6 With additional help from Facebook, Trump is making outright racist claims about voter fraud, endangering people who attempt to vote.
That's why it's time to bring in key oversight bodies. The Federal Trade Commission, House Judiciary Committee, and House Energy and Commerce Committee can investigate Facebook profiting from election disinformation and force a change. But we have a small window of time before it's too late. Will you add your name ?
Thanks for speaking out !
Shaunna, KaeLyn, Kathy, Anathea, Melody, Pam, Lindsay, Sonja, Kimberly, Maria, Katie, and Elisa, the UltraViolet team.
Sources :
1. Trump Reveals the Truth About Voter Suppression, New York Times, April 11, 2020
2. Facebook is letting the Trump campaign publish at least 529 ads with false claims of voter fraud, Media Matters, May 19, 2020
3. Russian Influence Reached 126 Million Through Facebook Alone, New York Times, October 30, 2017
4. The Voting Disaster Ahead, The Atlantic, June 30, 2020
5. Kentucky braces for possible voting problems in Tuesday's primary amid signs of high turnout, Washington Post, June 19, 2020
6. ‘I Refuse Not to Be Heard’: Georgia in Uproar Over Voting Meltdown, New York Times, June 9, 2020.
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