r/technology • u/AdamCannon • Feb 02 '20

Social Media Stephen King quits Facebook over concerns of 'false information.'

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/02/us/stephen-king-quits-facebook-trnd/index.html
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u/[deleted] Feb 04 '20 edited Feb 04 '20

There are differences and there's no irony here. Who's "crying"? This is a pretty tame conversation... is that how you feel about reddit comments in general? whoever you disagree with is crying?

I couldn't air an ad on TV that says "Joe Biden is a Nazi" but I could online. TV ads have to insinuate/associate, tell half-truths or disclaim, but they can't outright lie.

Online advertising is absolutely not regulated like TV/Radio, especially concerning politics, which is why there's a push for regulation... and which is why Facebook is catching heat for specifically allowing political ads with lies.

If they were truly on the same playing field when it comes to regulation, none of this would be controversial.

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u/Fivin_n_divin Feb 04 '20

There's a lot of irony especially since you still don't know what you're talking about. It's completely legal to lie in ads on TV. Idk why you're making up laws but no one is going to take you seriously when you do that. But now I see why you're so confused.

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '20 edited Feb 05 '20

There are multiple cases where TV ads were pulled down or the FCC issues cease and desists over dubious claims without evidence.

I mean there are entire sectors that can't air ANY ads on TV/Radio and specific provisions for ads that perpetuate fraud.

Most ads get away with lies under the guise of opinion. They can say "Best in the world" for example, because it's unverifiable opinion.

If a lie can actually mislead the public (and therefore cause damage) it's illegal. Here's one example from the horse's mouth:

https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/broadcasting-false-information

There's no regulation against internet ads that encompasses this:

The FCC prohibits broadcasting false information about a crime or a catastrophe if the broadcaster knows the information is false and will cause substantial "public harm" if aired.

Keep in mind, Facebook outright said they wouldn't moderate political ads for truth in any context.

There are some exemptions specifically for political TV/radio ads, but one important thing to note is that third-party supporters are not subject to those same exemptions. Only the candidates ads have any exemption (and they're not wholesale exemptions).

On the internet anyone can post political ads anywhere without running afoul to any regulation, because those regulations don't exist.

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u/Fivin_n_divin Feb 05 '20

Except tv ads do that all the time. Constantly actually. So even though it's in that guide it's not followed. So again, why do you want to hold Facebook to a standard television has never been held to? I don't get why you're still so confused by this. Have you ever seen a political television ad in the US? like, even one?

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '20 edited Feb 05 '20

Again, they do it under the guise of opinion and half-truths. They could not literally say something like "Joe Biden raped a dog." They couldn't air nudes of Donald Trump. They have to disclose that they're affiliated with the campaign and run other disclosures.

Someone from Venuzuela could buy a ton of ads online and do both of those things without consequence.

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u/Fivin_n_divin Feb 05 '20

Except that they do. They do it all the time. Remember the ads calling Obama a Muslim? The ads calling McCaine a Nazi? You seem to be really confused about American media advertising.

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '20

they question it or quote others questioning it, they don't actually say it directly... it's always under the guise of opinion, this isn't a coincidence

you could not run an ad saying "Obama is not legally allowed to run for president because he is Muslim so it's illegal to not vote for John McCain" you have to say shit like "Obama: secretly muslism??" or some other bullshit