Facebook plans to use U.S. mail to verify IDs of election ad buyers

[applegrove]

by REUTERS

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/facebook-plans-use-u-s-mail-verify-ids-election-ad-n849081

"SNIP.......

WASHINGTON — Facebook Inc will start using postcards sent by U.S. mail later this year to verify the identities and location of people who want to purchase U.S. election-related advertising on its site, a senior company executive said on Saturday.

The postcard verification is Facebook's latest effort to respond to criticism from lawmakers, security experts and election integrity watchdog groups that it and other social media companies failed to detect and later responded slowly to Russia's use of their platforms to spread divisive political content, including disinformation, during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

How the Russians used 'information warfare' to influence the election
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How the Russians used 'information warfare' to influence the election 1:52
Facebook revealed the plans a day after U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller unsealed an indictment accusing 13 Russians and three Russian companies of conducting a criminal and espionage conspiracy using social media to interfere in the election by boosting Republican Donald Trump and denigrating Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

The process of using postcards containing a specific code will be required for advertising that mentions a specific candidate running for a federal office, Katie Harbath, Facebook's global director of policy programs, said. The requirement will not apply to issue-based political ads, she said.

.......SNIP"

[Binkie The Clown]

1. It takes only minutes to find a mail forwarding service with a US address, and

set up an account from anywhere in the world. People who live full-time on the road in their RVs use them all the time to set up a "permanent" mailing address.

Worthless.

[applegrove]

3. But with an address you can look them up on google images and see if they are

in fact a mailbox not an actual office or home.

[Binkie The Clown]

8. And there are services where you can rent a desk and an address for your "business".

From the outside, they look like any office building.

[applegrove]

9. If facebook is suspicious they can call the police. Russian funding of election ads is illegal

during an election.

[Binkie The Clown]

10. IF facebook is suspicious. IF they put suspicions above money. IF. nt

[pnwmom]

6. And any mail can be sent with the direction "do not forward."

That's what it says on our ballot envelopes.

[Nevernose]

13. Mail fraud is a felony

So if they ARE caught — like these 13 Russians just indicted — it’s one more felony to throw at them.

[cbreezen]

2. Wow... isn't that what many states do to exclude votors?

Wakey, wakey Mark.

You are using the same technique that is used by those who would like to silence free speech.

IP addresses won't help you either.

You aren't interested. It hurts your business model.

Nevermind, that you could be a hero... were you not so interested in yourself and your investors.

[BigmanPigman]

4. I read about this yesterday...

what a fucking joke! How stupid is Fuckerberg, or better yet, how stupid does he think we are to believe that this will deter anyone over the age of 4?

[pnwmom]

7. Mail can be sent with the direction " do not forward" and with a signature requested.

Why would that be less likely to work than other important things sent by mail?

[earthshine]

11. Zuck is not stupid. But, he thinks we are, and we keep proving him right.

I am a high-tech guy who has never had a Facebook account.

From the start, I saw it as hanging a tracking device around one's neck that just follows you wherever you go.

If it were only just a place to put one's selfies, it would serve a better purpose.

Bigman, I like the "cut of your jib." Keep posting!

[BigmanPigman]

12. Thank you...

coming from a tech person I feel less vilified.

[msongs]

5. when FB has questions about your username u have to submit docs ONLINE nt