CongressionalBlackCaucus
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Black lawmakers call on Facebook and Twitter to purge racist ads
Facebook and Twitter are facing renewed calls from US lawmakers to ensure ads on their respective platforms aren't used to spread hate. The two firms are currently cooperating with Congressional investigators looking into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. And now, black Congress members are urging them to probe new ads, and make leadership changes. In a letter obtained by Recode, Reps. Robin Kelly, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Emanuel Cleaver further press the companies to clamp down on ads "aimed at inciting racial discontent" or "voter suppression." They also suggest the companies appoint people of color to their boards of directors, and conduct new audits of targeted advertisements.
Black Caucus: Facebook ads violate discrimination laws
Facebook's practice of letting advertisers exclude racial groups from targeted ads has caught the eye of US lawmakers. "We are writing to express our deep concerns with reports that Facebook's 'Ethnic Affinities' advertising customization feature allows for advertisers to exclude specific racial and ethnic groups when placing housing advertisements," the Congressional Black Caucus said in a letter to Facebook. "This is in direct violation of the Fair Housing Act of 1968."
