Yes, it’s a positive move. But remember:
- microtargeted political ads are problem and FB’s entire biz model
- Twitter banned all political ads (avoiding biz model debate)
- Google banned all microtargeted political ads
FB is making change for final week only.
Only Facebook...
- microtargeted political ads are problem and FB’s entire biz model
- Twitter banned all political ads (avoiding biz model debate)
- Google banned all microtargeted political ads
FB is making change for final week only.
Only Facebook...
Only Facebook knows how political ads has been used to microtarget the public with suppressing messaging based on their vulnerabilities. Only Facebook knows how this new move will affect campaign spending and intentions...
as election experts, lawmakers, regulators studying 2016 stated...banning microtargeted political ads is a “pause” until we better understand harmful effects, solutions. The alternative is chaos. FB is taking step away from chaos here of last minute subversion using its tools.
Over in the UK, the false information which was microtargeted and the effects to voting intentions in the weeks before the UK referendum was the first real look at how FB could be (ab)used. They saw the swing but had very little ability to probe how Facebook was illegally used. 
If you have an opinion on this move by Facebook or want to have one but haven’t watched @carolecadwalla TED talk on Facebook and elections, please please watch. It’s fifteen minutes well worth the time.
And if you think decisions affecting global democracy shouldn’t happen in a small room with one of the wealthiest men on the planet, his controversial and toothless board, his compromised and super influential policy team...I bring you antitrust scrutiny.
