We now have ?? ???an explanation for Facebook's bizarre indecision on political ads: Peter Thiel.
Despite months of reports — usually attributed to unnamed company sources — that Facebook is considering some kind of pullback from its controversial rules that allow politicians to lie in paid ads, the reason the company hasn't actually moved on the issue is because Peter Thiel doesn't think it's a good idea.
The Facebook board member, Cambridge Analytica funder, and Trump supporter "is extending his influence while the company’s board and senior ranks are in flux"to advertisements from politicians, according to a new report in The Wall Street Journal. He has argued that Mark Zuckerberg should stand by his earlier decision.
Thiel's influence with Zuckerberg — the Palantir founder was Facebook's first investor — is reportedly contributing to internal tensions at the company surrounding its political ad rules. The company said in September that it would not subject politicians to its community guidelines, even when they lie.
That decision has proved just as controversial within Facebook as outside of it. In October, a few hundred Facebook employees signed an open letter urging executives to rethink the policy.
"We strongly object to this policy as it stands," they wrote. "It doesn’t protect voices, but instead allows politicians to weaponize our platform by targeting people who believe that content posted by political figures is trustworthy."
Since then, there have been multiple reports that the company is considering limiting politicians' ability to micro-target ads, which lets ad-buyers reach small, very specific demographic groups. Critics, like Federal Election Commission Chair Ellen Weintraub, say that because most people will never see the micro-targeted ads, politicians are essentially free to spread whatever misinformation they want with few consequences.
The problem for Facebook, is that its leaders can't seem to agree on where to draw the line — and Thiel's influence apparently hasn't helped.
“Many of the decisions we’re making at Facebook come with difficult trade-offs and we’re approaching them with careful rigor at all levels of the company, from the Board of Directors down," a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. "We’re fortunate to have a Board with diverse experiences and perspectives so we can ensure debate that reflects a cross section of views.”
This is far from the first time Thiel has been a source of controversy for the company. Zuckerberg was forced to defend Thiel in 2016 after employees questioned the company's association with the prominent Trump supporter.
Since then, Thiel has been part of Trump's transition team and attended Zuckerberg's private White House dinner.
Topics Facebook Social Media
Ellie Rush Returns in ‘Grave on Grand Avenue’
'Fantastic Four,' another 2
Will TikTok Music take Spotify down?
Gmail redesign is rolling out for all users
Kizuna Announces Fourth Annual Family Showdown Event
Tony Hawk sings with 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater' cover band in London bar
Amazon is raising the pricing for Prime in Europe
Wordle today: Here's the August 1 Wordle answer and hints
Community Viewing of LGBTQ
In Meta's 'Are We There Yet,' not even Keke Palmer can make the metaverse make sense
MIT Bitcoin Expo 2022: Breaking Through
Thousands of Solana crypto wallets drained in yet another massive hack
Wordle today: Here's the July 25 Wordle answer and hints
'Xenoblade Chronicles 3' review: Persist and ye shall be rewarded
Pollen’s Native PLN Token Goes Global With MEXC Listing
Most watched TV shows and movies of the week (Aug 5)
Wordle today: Here's the August 2 Wordle answer and hints
Hulu is blocking Democrats' ads on climate change, abortion, and gun control
NFT "Coming to Life" Create New Applications of AI
Hulu will accept political issue ads after pressure from Democratic organizations, candidates
Walmart is expanding drone delivery servicesWhat's new to streaming and theaters this weekThreads desktop version is finally comingDid Trump sell Mar'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for August 18, 2023WhatsApp now lets you share photos in HDWalmart is expanding drone delivery servicesSpaceX discrimination lawsuit: Refugees, asylees wrongly rejectedMassive Books3 collection for training AI was taken down over copyright issuesWalmart is expanding drone delivery services Best headphones deal: Save $120 on Sony WH Udacity Memorial Day sale: Save 50% on monthly plans China’s Xpeng Motors planning EV production in Europe · TechNode Huawei’s first triple Trump threatens 25% tariff on Apple in Truth Social post NetEase Cloud Music suffers two Huawei to unveil triple foldable phone on September 10, same day as iPhone 16 launch · TechNode Honor secures new round of investment from China Mobile · TechNode Huawei’s car business swings to first Memorial Day deal: $1500 off 98
0.2408s , 9838.203125 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【?? ???】Peter Thiel told Mark Zuckerberg not to change political ad rules, report says,Global Hot Topic Analysis
