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Facebook Braces Itself for Trump to Cast Doubt on Election Results

posted by martyb on Tuesday August 25 2020, @06:36AM   Printer-friendly
from the why-wait-until-AFTER-the-election? dept.

upstart writes in with an IRC submission for RandomFactor:

Facebook Braces Itself for Trump to Cast Doubt on Election Results:

Facebook spent years preparing to ward off any tampering on its site ahead of November's presidential election. Now the social network is getting ready in case President Trump interferes once the vote is over.

Employees at the Silicon Valley company are laying out contingency plans and walking through postelection scenarios that include attempts by Mr. Trump or his campaign to use the platform to delegitimize the results, people with knowledge of Facebook's plans said.

Facebook is preparing steps to take should Mr. Trump wrongly claim on the site that he won another four-year term, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Facebook is also working through how it might act if Mr. Trump tries to invalidate the results by declaring that the Postal Service lost mail-in ballots or that other groups meddled with the vote, the people said.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive, and some of his lieutenants have started holding daily meetings about minimizing how the platform can be used to dispute the election, the people said. They have discussed a "kill switch" to shut off political advertising after Election Day since the ads, which Facebook does not police for truthfulness, could be used to spread misinformation, the people said.

The preparations underscore how rising concerns over the integrity of the November election have reached social media companies, whose sites can be used to amplify lies, conspiracy theories and inflammatory messages. YouTube and Twitter have also discussed plans for action if the postelection period becomes complicated, according to disinformation and political researchers who have advised the firms.

[...] The preparations underscore how rising concerns over the integrity of the November election have reached social media companies, whose sites can be used to amplify lies, conspiracy theories and inflammatory messages. YouTube and Twitter have also discussed plans for action if the postelection period becomes complicated, according to disinformation and political researchers who have advised the firms.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by PiMuNu on Tuesday August 25 2020, @08:36AM (23 children)

    by PiMuNu (3823) on Tuesday August 25 2020, @08:36AM (#1041533)

    Somehow the US political establishment, especially the Dems, have lost sight of what really matters: policies. Maybe it is Trump's very effective smokescreening and misdirection (not a criticism of Trump, it is his job as a politician).

    I saw bits of Biden's inaugural address (or whatever its called). It seemed to be that he was strong on rhetoric but very weak on substance. His address was essentially "vote for me, because I'm not Trump". Nothing that I could see about foreign policy e.g. whether US supports Europe, Russia or China. Nothing that I could see about budgets e.g. continue to support the military spend, or increase science spend, or something like that. Nothing at all really.

    It's a losing proposition I would say.

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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday August 25 2020, @01:07PM (8 children)

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Tuesday August 25 2020, @01:07PM (#1041561) Journal

    It's a losing proposition I would say.

    Nothing is a losing proposition when the entirety of the media, captains of industry (esp. Big Tech), half the country under the control of the opposition party is being allowed to burn, and the puppet masters in the MIC are pulling out all the stops and then some this time to stop Trump. Trump is the president, but it doesn't seem to count for much because he doesn't seem to be able to arrest the aforementioned en masse or call in drone strikes on them. The Speaker of the House has now declared the President of the United States to be an "Enemy of the State," so I don't think those who hate Trump will have long to wait before they get the satisfaction they've been thirsting for.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @06:23PM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @06:23PM (#1041736)

      Naked fascism in full support.

      Didn't realize the US was filled with traitors to democracy. Or, just Russian agents pulling a long con. Who knows with these amazing intertubes??

      • (Score: 3, Touché) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:15AM (3 children)

        by Phoenix666 (552) on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:15AM (#1041903) Journal

        It's a pretty pitiful fascism that doesn't result in mass, summary execution of characters like you. It's almost like they are servants of a lawful republic who don't possess dictatorial powers.

        --
        Washington DC delenda est.

        • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:27AM (2 children)

          by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:27AM (#1042050) Journal

          Really, Phoenix666, my estimation of you is much reduced. Are you perhaps having a senior moment? Please try to remain rational.

          • (Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:00PM (1 child)

            by Phoenix666 (552) on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:00PM (#1042104) Journal

            Are you disappointed I haven't drunk the Democrat Kool-Aid, or are you asserting that undesirable Americans are being locked up en masse, etc., and we really do live in a fascist country? If the latter, aren't you afraid to be posting criticism of the regime lest they come and arrest you in the night? If American democracy has died, why don't you take up arms and march on Washington?

            If you can still speak freely, elect representatives you like, and all of that democracy stuff, then by definition you do not live in a fascist country. Being able to do all those things and still, contrary to those facts, believing you live in a fascist state makes you the irrational one.

            And by the by, nowhere in my contract does it obligate me to "remain rational*."

            *according to a random dude on the Internet who fronts as a dead ancient Greek

            --
            Washington DC delenda est.

            • (Score: 2) by aristarchus on Wednesday August 26 2020, @11:16PM

              by aristarchus (2645) on Wednesday August 26 2020, @11:16PM (#1042431) Journal

              No, more a matter of tone. You seem a bit on edge, of late.

              And, I am not an American. But there is an interesting idea that the Philosopher Hegel had, that those who think that government is supposed to produce benefits for them are just wrong, whether it is health care, or contract enforcement and dispute resolution. You might think national defense, but that is where the rub is.

              The community may, on the one hand, organize itself into systems of personal independence and property, of laws relating to persons and things; and, on the other hand, the various ways of working for Ends which are in the first instance particular Ends-- those of gain and employment-- it may articulate into their own special and independent associations. The Spirit of universal assembly and association is the simple negative essence of those systems which tend to isolate themselves. In order not to let them become rooted and set in this isolation, thereby breaking up the whole and letting the {communal} spirit evaporate, government has from time to time to shake them to their core by war. By this means the government upsets their established order, and violates their right to independence, while the individuals who, absorbed in their own way of life, break loose from the whole and strive after the inviolable independence and security of the person, are made to feel in the task laid upon them their lord and master, death. Spirit, by thus throwing into the melting-pot the stable existence of these systems, checks their tendency to fall away from the ethical order, and to be submerged in a {merely} natural existence; and it preserved and raises conscious self into freedom and its own power. The negative essence shows itself to be the real power of the community and the force of its self-preservation

              Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, §455.

              So in a war, the nation can take all your stuff, if it needs it. Requisition. And it can even take you, and put your life at risk, and take it if you refuse. Much the same in the case of a pandemic. We will take your freedoms, make you wear a mask, lock you up until the danger you pose is past, whatever it takes, because the health of the nation is more important than any one citizen. Now, in a democracy, every rational citizen undertakes their duty out of their own free will. In a fascist regime, it is the opposite.

              So, Phoenix666, I hope you are well, and staying safe. Perhaps step away from SN for a day or so.
              And who is this "random dude" on the internet who "fronts as a dead ancient Greek"? Makes us living ancient Greeks look bad, does stuff like that.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @09:31PM (2 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @09:31PM (#1041802)

      Rhetoric like that from the Speaker of the House ("Enemy of the State") encourages the crazy violent leftists.

      House member Steve Scalise was wounded and nearly killed by a Bernie supporter. A bunch of AR-15 ammo pierced the congressman's lower abdomen, severely damaging his organs.

      Senator Rand Paul was attacked by his unhinged lefty neighbor. (not over yard waste, as some claim) The senator got broken ribs and lung damage.

      Say, where are the attacks going the other direction politically? Could it be that the right is more peaceful and less unhinged? They certainly have the weaponry.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:52AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:52AM (#1041926)

        That's why the libs want this war with Russia so bad so they can conscript true American patriots and send them overseas to die.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:31AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:31AM (#1042051)

        A bunch of AR-15 ammo pierced the congressman's lower abdomen, severely damaging his organs.

        See! This is why we need to ban insulting rifles, so they do not randomly and by themselves go piercing Republican Congressmen (exception for Gym Jordan noted) and damaging their organs. You never see Chrysler products doing that, do you?

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by HiThere on Tuesday August 25 2020, @02:34PM (4 children)

    by HiThere (866) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 25 2020, @02:34PM (#1041606) Journal

    Sorry, but "Not Trump" is a good reason to vote for Biden. I'm not really thrilled with him as a candidate, but I'd support a doorknob before I'd support Trump. And I distrust facile promises. In the past the parts of the promise that I disliked most were the parts that tended to be kept. This was true whether I supported the candidate or not, and whichever party the candidate made the promises to.

    I'm sure part of the reason is that actual working plans don't make good sound bites. This, however, doesn't encourage me to trust politician's promises.

    --
    Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.

  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @05:16PM (8 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @05:16PM (#1041707)

    Maybe it is Trump's very effective smokescreening and misdirection (not a criticism of Trump, it is his job as a politician).

    Trump looks and talks like a goddamn idiot but he is weakening our enemies, bringing us peace in the Middle East, and making moves that are good for long-term strategy. If you turn off the TV, ignore his orange face, and look at the results, Trump is the best president since Roosevelt or Lincoln while his biggest problems are either natural disasters like Covid or are something that the Democrats did.

    • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @05:33PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday August 25 2020, @05:33PM (#1041714)

      Trump is caught in a middle-eastern political power play that will not really benefit the US. The poles of that conflict are Saudi Arabia, a Sunni theocracy, and Iran, a Shia theocracy.

      Saudi Arabia has strategically aligned with Israel, which forces us to take that side, no doubt in part to Trump's family and friends with ties to Israel.

      It would do us best to stay out of that shithole area.

    • (Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Tuesday August 25 2020, @05:35PM

      by PiMuNu (3823) on Tuesday August 25 2020, @05:35PM (#1041715)

      You get my point I think. Not that I necessarily agree with you - but if the Dems don't come out with some sort of policy then I believe Trump will win based on exactly the arguments you propose. And so he should.

    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday August 26 2020, @02:08AM (3 children)

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday August 26 2020, @02:08AM (#1041934) Journal
      He is weakening the US too. US publicly held debt jumped by more than 20% over just the last year. We're really close to Greek levels of indebtedness once you count the corresponding decline in US GDP over the same time period. Austerity ahoy!

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:32AM (2 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @09:32AM (#1042053)

        You just don't get it, do you, khallow?

        • (Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:13PM (1 child)

          by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday August 26 2020, @01:13PM (#1042110) Journal

          You just don't get it, do you, khallow?

          Oh look, a whiny AC adding nothing to the conversation, again.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @11:18PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @11:18PM (#1042435)

            Better than a whiny khallow, who adds nothing to the conversation but the opportunity to whine about how he adds nothing to the covfefesation. Hey, have you read von Hayek lately?

    • (Score: 3, Touché) by dry on Wednesday August 26 2020, @05:21AM

      by dry (223) on Wednesday August 26 2020, @05:21AM (#1042006) Journal

      The Kurds were your enemies? Recognizing Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel was a peace move? Putting Tariffs on Canada so American breweries have to buy cans from China is a good long term strategy? Cheering on China's human rights abuses is also a good long term strategy? Not to mention dividing Americans more then anyone in a 150 years does not seem smart, but I guess a civil war is one way to get dictatorial powers.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 27 2020, @11:49AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 27 2020, @11:49AM (#1042630)

      He's bringing peace to the middle east by continuing all of our unconstitutional forever wars against countries that didn't attack us. He brought peace to the middle east when he vetoed bipartisan legislation that would have ended the US's support of Saudi Arabia's genocide in Yemen, after Saudi Arabia funneled money into his hotels of course. That is the most amazing peace I've ever witnessed!

      And I'm not sure how 7+ million people losing health insurance under Trump helps us in the long-term. Or his tax cuts for the mega rich. Or much of anything he's done.