Several Democratic secretaries of state have joined forces to send a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, urging the company to cease allowing ads that propagate the false narrative of the 2020 presidential election being stolen. The secretaries of state from Colorado, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and Vermont, along with Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, expressed their concerns about how such ads could further erode trust in elections and incite threats of violence against election workers.
The letter highlighted the persistence of conspiracy theories and baseless claims of election fraud surrounding the 2020 election, despite numerous reviews, recounts, and audits confirming President Joe Biden's victory. Former President Donald Trump's continued insistence on his victory without evidence has fueled a dangerous environment for election workers, leading to threats, harassment, and a significant turnover in the profession.
While Meta has defended its efforts to safeguard elections globally, the Democratic secretaries of state remain troubled by the presence of ads promoting election denialism. They emphasized the detrimental impact of such misinformation on public confidence in the electoral process and voter turnout.
YouTube had previously announced a similar policy to Meta's regarding election-related content, indicating a shift in how tech companies handle false claims about past U.S. presidential elections. Meta's 2022 plan for the midterm elections includes continuous content review to uphold community standards and combat misinformation related to elections and voter interference.
The Democratic Association of Secretaries of State coordinated the letter to Meta, underscoring the importance of ensuring voters have accurate information about elections to foster trust and participation in the democratic process. The secretaries of state emphasized the need to counter false narratives and protect the integrity of future elections from misinformation campaigns.
