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

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.


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  • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday August 25 2020, @02:06PM (4 children)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 25 2020, @02:06PM (#1041595) Journal

    I do not and never have supported the orange clown. (Just to say it, in case it is not clear.)

    Yet I reluctantly accept the possibility / probability that he might "win". (with "win" in quotes)

    --
    People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday August 25 2020, @03:29PM (3 children)

    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday August 25 2020, @03:29PM (#1041650) Journal

    ....waaaaait wait wait wait. I replied to Phoenix666 and I get a reply from DannyB?

    Did you just out yourself as a sockpuppet?

    --
    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
    • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday August 25 2020, @04:35PM

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 25 2020, @04:35PM (#1041685) Journal

      As of this date, I have only had this one account. I have rarely posted anonymously (probably could count on one hand) and only when being anonymous makes the joke funny.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday August 25 2020, @04:37PM

      by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday August 25 2020, @04:37PM (#1041686) Journal

      My reply was to point out the possibility that Trump could win. (God help us all.)

      I didn't expect him to win his first term. Nevermind his 2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.

      --
      People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @03:20AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday August 26 2020, @03:20AM (#1041971)

      Never underestimate the power of coincidence.