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Social Media Giants Bolster Defenses Against Election Misinformation
Four years after foreign actors manipulated social media to interfere in the U.S. presidential election, misinformation remains one of the greatest threats to American democracy in the 2020 electoral cycle, according to experts.
The stakes have escalated significantly since 2016. Conspiracy theories like QAnon have gained widespread traction, while President Trump routinely uses social media platforms to challenge his opponents and make contested claims about the electoral process. Meanwhile, federal action to combat foreign election interference online has been minimal, placing greater responsibility on tech platforms themselves.
Facing criticism for past failures to decisively combat these threats, major platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have announced comprehensive measures to fight misinformation ahead of the November 3 vote. These range from algorithmic changes to new policies restricting the sharing of false information.
However, many experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of these eleventh-hour changes, implemented as hundreds of thousands of Americans have already cast their ballots. Others have expressed concern about the lack of transparency in how these policies are being applied.
“I am concerned right now the future of our democracy is in the hands of very few people at these tech companies,” said Lisa Fazio, a Vanderbilt University professor specializing in misinformation research.
Facebook and Instagram: Comprehensive but Late Response
Facebook has implemented numerous new policies for both its flagship platform and Instagram, focusing on the electoral process and misleading claims by politicians.
The company has banned content intended to intimidate voters or interfere with voting after Trump encouraged supporters to “watch” polling locations. Since October 10, Facebook has featured information panels and videos about voting at the top of news feeds in both English and Spanish.
The platform launched a “voter information center” with verified election information that has reportedly helped an estimated 2.5 million people register to vote. It has also halted new political advertising one week before Election Day and will stop running all political ads indefinitely starting November 3.
Additionally, Facebook will label posts from candidates claiming premature victory and will prominently display the officially declared winner’s name if results are contested. The company has also begun labeling false or misleading posts from public figures, including the president.
Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, which helped organize the Stop Hate for Profit advertising boycott against Facebook earlier this year, characterized these measures as “too little, too late.”
“They have allowed the amplification of hate, racism and misinformation at a scale unprecedented in my lifetime,” Steyer said, though he acknowledged the voter information centers as a positive development.
Twitter: Strong Policies, Slow Implementation
Twitter has also instituted measures to combat misinformation and appears to be preparing for potentially delayed or contested election results.
The platform has created an elections “hub” featuring news in English and Spanish from reputable sources and live streams of major election events. Users are prohibited from claiming election victories before they are officially called and cannot post content intended to interfere with election processes.
Twitter has committed to removing false or misleading information that undermines public confidence in elections, including placing “public interest” notices on misleading tweets about voting. The platform has also introduced a feature that prevents users from retweeting articles they haven’t opened.
Professor Fazio praised Twitter’s efforts to limit the spread of election misinformation but noted that implementation has been sluggish. “I’ve been pleased so far with Twitter’s decisions,” she said. “They are just often taking too long.”
YouTube: Limited New Protections
Despite its reputation as a hotbed for misinformation and conspiracy theories, YouTube has introduced relatively few new policies specific to the 2020 elections, instead emphasizing how existing policies apply to election-related content.
The video platform pledges to remove technically manipulated content that could cause serious harm, ban content containing hacked information that may interfere with democratic processes, and remove content encouraging interference with voting.
Like its competitors, YouTube has created a voting information panel for searches related to candidates, providing resources on voter registration and links to official state websites.
Fazio suggested YouTube could benefit from changes similar to Twitter’s that limit algorithmic recommendations potentially exposing users to misinformation. “I can see how people think it would be helpful to show related content, but in many cases it is sending users down rabbit holes with more extremism,” she noted.
TikTok: Building on Existing Safeguards
TikTok’s existing policies prohibit content misleading users about elections or civic processes, and the platform has announced measures to strengthen these protections.
The Chinese-owned company is working with the Department of Homeland Security to protect against foreign influence operations and has expanded its fact-checking partnerships to include organizations like the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise program, Science Feedback, Lead Stories, and Vishvas News.
Following the model of its COVID-19 information efforts, TikTok has launched an in-app guide to the 2020 elections, providing voting information and connecting users with trusted sources such as BallotReady and the National Association of Secretaries of State.
As mail-in ballots continue to arrive across the United States, the effectiveness of these varied platform responses remains to be seen, leaving many experts concerned about the outsized role tech companies now play in safeguarding American democracy.
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8 Comments
Kudos to the social media companies for trying to improve their defenses against election-related misinformation. However, the proof will be in the pudding – we’ll have to see how well these new policies work in practice.
The challenge of combating online misinformation is a complex one without easy solutions. I’m interested to see if the latest round of platform changes can make a meaningful difference in the coming election cycle.
I agree, the problem is multifaceted and will require sustained effort. Continued monitoring and refinement of the platforms’ approaches will be crucial as we get closer to election day.
Conspiracy theories and contested election claims pose serious risks. I’m curious to see if the updated policies and algorithms can effectively counter the spread of misinformation ahead of the vote.
You raise a good point. The tech giants will need to strike a delicate balance between free speech and combating harmful falsehoods. Consistent enforcement and clear communication will be crucial.
While the tech platforms’ actions are a step in the right direction, I’m skeptical that they’ll be sufficient to truly curb the tide of misinformation. Mitigating this threat requires a multi-pronged approach.
Social media’s role in spreading misinformation is concerning, especially with the high stakes of the upcoming election. I hope the new measures are more effective than past efforts to address this challenge.
Tackling misinformation on social media is a critical challenge for election integrity. While tech platforms have announced new measures, their effectiveness remains to be seen. Continued vigilance and transparency will be key.