Facebook is STILL running ads from opaque organisations trying to influence politics – and banning Leftie sites

A website known as mainstreamnetwork.co.uk has been using Facebook to spread a pro-Brexit, anti-Chequers political message in a bid to influence the politics of the UK, according to media sources.

This comes after Facebook promised to be more open about political advertising, following harsh criticism over adverts that were targeted in ways designed to influence public votes on membership of the EU and the 2017 general election.

The social media platform was – only this week – fined £500,000 for its role in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. This is the maximum fine possible under data protection rules that were in force before GDPR took effect in May.

Nobody outside Facebook knows what information is being published on the website or where it comes from – and only Facebook will know which adverts and information have been directed at which Facebook users.

This means it is entirely possible that Facebook and its advertisers are not abiding by the laws that regulate the democratic process and restrict spending on campaigns and the content of adverts.

This is crucially important at a time when Facebook is said to be removing pages run by left-leaning media sources.

US commentator Lee Camp fills you in here:

“This is a full-frontal crushing of dissident sources,” he said.

“Facebook conspired with Twitter to shut down a large swathe of independent media on the same day.

“This is like a full-on fascist takeover of independent thought.”

Well, is it?

Let’s get back to mainstreamnetwork.co.uk – the site that is not only still permitted by Facebook but actually splashed a quarter of a million pounds worth of advertising all over it.

What kind of site does Facebook endorse in this way? Take a look:

We do not know who runs the site. We do not know whether it is based in the UK or overseas. We do not know who funds it. There is no name or address anywhere on the site.

A report by political research organisation 89Up, prepared for the DCMS Select Committee… tells us that it has paid to use Facebook, probably about £250,000 in the last year, to spread its views and to encourage its users with a pro-forma letter to email UK MPs from a custom built website.

We also know that it has retained users’ email addresses, possibly in breach of data protection regulations.

Facebook has made these activities possible and profits from them. But it accepts no responsibility for ensuring its users comply with the law.

All of this is happening now – after the Cambridge Analytica scandal and after Facebook made a number of announcements purporting to address the misuse of the platform for political purposes.

Source: We don’t know who just spent £250k on pro-Brexit Facebook ads – that should worry us all

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3 Comments

  1. Barry Davies October 26, 2018 at 1:36 pm - Reply

    Strange that I’m strongly pro leave, have been since before heath dumped us in it, without asking us first, and haven’t come across this, in fact the amount of Eu collaborators demanding total capitulation is more common.

  2. Carolyn Adams October 26, 2018 at 9:57 pm - Reply

    I have never let adverts influence my voting ethics, i look for facts not fiction, like brexit and the N.H.S.. which by the way, is supposed to be paid for with the income tax everyone pays,(income tax was introduced to pay back loans incurred by WWll to the U.S.A., Was paid in full about 16/17 years ago, then then P.M. Gorden Brown, used the media to tell people’Carry on paying income tax, we will use it to fund the NHS (they were going to privatise back then because it was in trouble so they said,but l now don’t believe that hype as they knew just how to mess with folks so they could keep that cash,at least thats what l now believe) the hype was this, it will be your, NHS and no-one can take it from you!!!! bwwwahaha LIARS AND CHEATS ME THINKS

    • Mike Sivier December 26, 2018 at 4:26 pm - Reply

      In fact, Income Tax was introduced to pay for the Napoleonic Wars, but was not ended thereafter.

      It certainly seems somebody has lied to you. Perhaps a dip into the history books would do you a bit of good?

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