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