Changes

As of 2018, Google and Facebook controlled 60% of all digital advertising revenue, totaling over $60 billion.

As of 2018, Google and Facebook controlled 60% of all digital advertising revenue, totaling over $60 billion.

===2020 Presidential election interference===

==2020 Presidential election interference==

{{See also|2020 Presidential election|Blue state Civil War|Voter fraud|Fake news in the 2020 presidential election}}

{{See also|2020 Presidential election|Blue state Civil War|Voter fraud|Fake news in the 2020 presidential election}}

In August 2020 it was reported that Facebook was planning for the possibility that [[President]] Trump or his campaign could try to challenge mail in ballot election results.  ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that staffers were already putting together contingency plans in the event Trump tries to use Facebook to dispute the vote by declaring the [[U.S. Postal Service]] lost mail-in ballots or that other groups interfered with the vote.  Facebook officials, including [[CEO]] Mark Zuckerberg, were holding daily meetings to discuss how to minimize the platform from being used to cast doubts on the results.

In August 2020 it was reported that Facebook was planning for the possibility that [[President]] Trump or his campaign could try to challenge mail in ballot election results.  ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that staffers were already putting together contingency plans in the event Trump tries to use Facebook to dispute the vote by declaring the [[U.S. Postal Service]] lost mail-in ballots or that other groups interfered with the vote.  Facebook officials, including [[CEO]] Mark Zuckerberg, were holding daily meetings to discuss how to minimize the platform from being used to cast doubts on the results.

Facebook banned political pages in an attempt to influence elections.<ref>Duke, Selwyn (May 15, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/32360-big-tech-tyranny-facebook-is-at-it-again-trying-to-sway-an-election Big Tech Tyranny: Facebook Is at It Again, Trying to Sway an Election]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 15, 2019.</ref>

Facebook banned political pages in an attempt to influence elections.<ref>Duke, Selwyn (May 15, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/world-news/item/32360-big-tech-tyranny-facebook-is-at-it-again-trying-to-sway-an-election Big Tech Tyranny: Facebook Is at It Again, Trying to Sway an Election]. ''The New American''. Retrieved May 15, 2019.</ref>

====Section 230 status and election interference====

===Section 230 status and election interference===

For first time in [[American history]] [[social media]] companies took [[direct action]] against a major U.S. publisher,<ref>https://www.theepochtimes.com/twitter-and-facebooks-assault-on-freedom-of-the-press_3540670.html</ref> ''[[The New York Post]]'' when it published a story on former VP Biden's [[collusion]] with [[Burisma]] executives and Ukrainian [[oligarch]]s.<ref>*https://nypost.com/2020/10/14/email-reveals-how-hunter-biden-introduced-ukrainian-biz-man-to-dad/<br>*https://youtu.be/r4Kcc7a114I<br>*https://youtu.be/89ByR-vrnc4</ref> ''The Post'' is among the top five newspapers by circulation in the United States.  These actions raised serious questions about many social media platforms future [[Section 230]] immunity status.

For first time in [[American history]] [[social media]] companies took [[direct action]] against a major U.S. publisher,<ref>https://www.theepochtimes.com/twitter-and-facebooks-assault-on-freedom-of-the-press_3540670.html</ref> ''[[The New York Post]]'' when it published a story on former VP Biden's [[collusion]] with [[Burisma]] executives and Ukrainian [[oligarch]]s.<ref>*https://nypost.com/2020/10/14/email-reveals-how-hunter-biden-introduced-ukrainian-biz-man-to-dad/<br>*https://youtu.be/r4Kcc7a114I<br>*https://youtu.be/89ByR-vrnc4</ref> ''The Post'' is among the top five newspapers by circulation in the United States.  These actions raised serious questions about many social media platforms future [[Section 230]] immunity status.

By “fact checking” one candidate and not another, Big Tech gave an enormous in-kind campaign contribution of immeasurable monetary value to the [[2020 Biden campaign|Biden campaign]].

By “fact checking” one candidate and not another, Big Tech gave an enormous in-kind campaign contribution of immeasurable monetary value to the [[2020 Biden campaign|Biden campaign]].

====Coronavirusa and Communist Chinese misinformation====

===Coronavirusa and Communist Chinese misinformation===

In the case of the [[Coronavirus]], Big Tech used the [[Communist Chinese]]-controlled [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) as an “authority” on health related matters instead of official health guidelines from the [[President of the United States]].<ref>https://about.fb.com/news/2020/04/covid-19-misinfo-update/</ref>  This is a matter of [[national security]] and public health.

In the case of the [[Coronavirus]], Big Tech used the [[Communist Chinese]]-controlled [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) as an “authority” on health related matters instead of official health guidelines from the [[President of the United States]].<ref>https://about.fb.com/news/2020/04/covid-19-misinfo-update/</ref>  This is a matter of [[national security]] and public health.

====FEC disclosure exemptions====

===FEC disclosure exemptions===

Political advertising regarding federal elections and candidates that is purchased for appearance on radio, television and print generally must adhere to [[Federal Election Commission]] rules requiring clear disclosure of the committee or donor paying for the advertisements. During 2011, Google and Facebook hired [[Marxist]] operative [[Marc Elias]] to help them obtain an exemption from this requirement for political advertising on their platforms. Elias argued the restrictions were not practical for his clients, with FEC commissioners ultimately voting 4-2 in favor of the exemption for Google and deadlocking 3-3 on the request regarding Facebook.<ref>Vogel, Kenneth P.; and Kang, Cecilia. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/us/politics/facebook-google-russia-meddling-disclosure.html “Senators Demand Online Ad Disclosures as Tech Lobby Mobilizes.”] New York Times. October 19, 2017.</ref>

Political advertising regarding federal elections and candidates that is purchased for appearance on radio, television and print generally must adhere to [[Federal Election Commission]] rules requiring clear disclosure of the committee or donor paying for the advertisements. During 2011, Google and Facebook hired [[Marxist]] operative [[Marc Elias]] to help them obtain an exemption from this requirement for political advertising on their platforms. Elias argued the restrictions were not practical for his clients, with FEC commissioners ultimately voting 4-2 in favor of the exemption for Google and deadlocking 3-3 on the request regarding Facebook.<ref>Vogel, Kenneth P.; and Kang, Cecilia. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/19/us/politics/facebook-google-russia-meddling-disclosure.html “Senators Demand Online Ad Disclosures as Tech Lobby Mobilizes.”] New York Times. October 19, 2017.</ref>

Facebook continued to operate as if exempt from disclosure rules. During the 2016 U.S. general election, $100,000 worth of Russian-backed and undisclosed advertisements intended to influence voters were purchased on Facebook with another $4,700 spent by Russian sources on Google political advertisements. In October 2017, following the controversy that ensued regarding Russian interference in the 2016 elections, both Republican and Democratic Senators advocated for legislation to require Facebook and Google to adhere to the same disclosure rules as other media.

Facebook continued to operate as if exempt from disclosure rules. During the 2016 U.S. general election, $100,000 worth of Russian-backed and undisclosed advertisements intended to influence voters were purchased on Facebook with another $4,700 spent by Russian sources on Google political advertisements. In October 2017, following the controversy that ensued regarding Russian interference in the 2016 elections, both Republican and Democratic Senators advocated for legislation to require Facebook and Google to adhere to the same disclosure rules as other media.

====Anti-Trust and Section 230====

===Anti-Trust and Section 230===

:{{See also|Anti-trust law}}

:{{See also|Anti-trust law}}

Some proposals to curb excesses of social media involve using anti-trust to break them up or for increasing regulation on the companies.  These proposals are primarily offered by democrats<ref>[https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/16/18627709/bernie-sanders-democrat-facebook-break-up-elizabeth-warren-instagram-whatsapp Bernie Sanders becomes latest 2020 candidate to call for Facebook breakup]</ref>

Some proposals to curb excesses of social media involve using anti-trust to break them up or for increasing regulation on the companies.  These proposals are primarily offered by democrats<ref>[https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/16/18627709/bernie-sanders-democrat-facebook-break-up-elizabeth-warren-instagram-whatsapp Bernie Sanders becomes latest 2020 candidate to call for Facebook breakup]</ref>