The rules are being introduced amid a storm of controversies regarding Facebook’s handling of user data (particularly the improper harvesting of user data to build political advertising tools), and the spread of politicised, state-backed misinformation and hate speech on the social network which have been credited with exerting some influence on voting behaviour. Facebook’s public image reached a new nadir this week when Mark Zuckerberg, its co-founder and CEO, failed to appear before an “International Grand Committee on Disinformation”, representing nearly half a billion citizens from four continents.

Amid this mounting criticism, Facebook has taken some steps to restrict improper interference with democratic events, such as by banning all foreign advertising on Facebook in the lead-up to Ireland’s referendum on decriminalising abortion. It announced that it would be increasing transparency around political advertising by showing the sponsor of each advert, as well as by requiring advertisers to prove that they are residents of the relevant country, and by maintaining a publicly-accessible database of political advertising: an ‘Ad Library’. This will help prevent foreign interference in elections, Facebook said.

“UK enforcement starts today for advertisers that want to run political ads,” said Rob Leathern, Facebook’s director of product management, in a statement. “Now, political advertisers must confirm their identify and location, as well as say who paid for the ad, before they can be approved to run political ads on Facebook and/or Instagram.”

“Ads related to politics will be housed in an Ad Library for seven years. Advertisers will be prevented from running a political ad if they aren’t authorised. If we learn of an ad that requires authorisation and is running without a “Paid for by” disclaimer, we’ll take it down and place it in the Ad Library.”

The rules were first rolled out in October – and are in place in the US and Brazil – although further work was required on proper implementation after British and American journalists demonstrated that adverts apparently backed by US senators and banned organisations were still being approved.

In his appearance before the Grand Committee this week in the absence of Zuckerberg, Richard Allan (Lord Allan of Hallam), Facebook VP for policy solutions, explained that there had been delays in rolling out the new rules due to serious technical complications, such as verifying sponsors’ identities and supporting the advertising archive.

Facebook has explained that news publishers will not be required to undergo the authorisation process when paying to promote political news, although these adverts would also be stored in a section of the Ad Library.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a motion in a California court requesting the release of documents revealing correspondence between the US government and Facebook, in which the government allegedly tried to force Facebook to allow for wiretapping of suspected gang members. Facebook refused the request.

The rules are being introduced amid a storm of controversies regarding Facebook’s handling of user data (particularly the improper harvesting of user data to build political advertising tools), and the spread of politicised, state-backed misinformation and hate speech on the social network which have been credited with exerting some influence on voting behaviour. Facebook’s public image reached a new nadir this week when Mark Zuckerberg, its co-founder and CEO, failed to appear before an “International Grand Committee on Disinformation”, representing nearly half a billion citizens from four continents.

Amid this mounting criticism, Facebook has taken some steps to restrict improper interference with democratic events, such as by banning all foreign advertising on Facebook in the lead-up to Ireland’s referendum on decriminalising abortion. It announced that it would be increasing transparency around political advertising by showing the sponsor of each advert, as well as by requiring advertisers to prove that they are residents of the relevant country, and by maintaining a publicly-accessible database of political advertising: an ‘Ad Library’. This will help prevent foreign interference in elections, Facebook said.

“UK enforcement starts today for advertisers that want to run political ads,” said Rob Leathern, Facebook’s director of product management, in a statement. “Now, political advertisers must confirm their identify and location, as well as say who paid for the ad, before they can be approved to run political ads on Facebook and/or Instagram.”

“Ads related to politics will be housed in an Ad Library for seven years. Advertisers will be prevented from running a political ad if they aren’t authorised. If we learn of an ad that requires authorisation and is running without a “Paid for by” disclaimer, we’ll take it down and place it in the Ad Library.”

The rules were first rolled out in October – and are in place in the US and Brazil – although further work was required on proper implementation after British and American journalists demonstrated that adverts apparently backed by US senators and banned organisations were still being approved.

In his appearance before the Grand Committee this week in the absence of Zuckerberg, Richard Allan (Lord Allan of Hallam), Facebook VP for policy solutions, explained that there had been delays in rolling out the new rules due to serious technical complications, such as verifying sponsors’ identities and supporting the advertising archive.

Facebook has explained that news publishers will not be required to undergo the authorisation process when paying to promote political news, although these adverts would also be stored in a section of the Ad Library.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a motion in a California court requesting the release of documents revealing correspondence between the US government and Facebook, in which the government allegedly tried to force Facebook to allow for wiretapping of suspected gang members. Facebook refused the request.