TRUMP DISLIKES
Trump lashes out at Facebook’s election ad ban as spokesperson says he’s being ‘silenced by Silicon Valley Mafia’
DONALD Trump blasted Facebook's political ad ban a week before the election, as his spokesperson claiming he's being "silenced by Silicon Valley Mafia."
On Thursday, said this was because he was "concerned" about voters being put off before November 3 – but the president wasn't impressed.
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“In the last seven days of the most important election in our history, President Trump will be banned from defending himself on the largest platform in America," his Deputy National Press Secretary Samantha Zager told the .
"The President will be silenced by the Silicon Valley Mafia."
The comments come after Zuckerberg made the announcement, expressing concern about posts which would suppress or discourage voting, saying this wasn't "going to be business as usual."
"The US elections are just two months away, and with Covid-19 affecting communities across the country, I'm concerned about the challenges people could face when voting,” Zuckerberg told staff, reported .
“I'm also worried that with our nation so divided and election results potentially taking days or even weeks to be finalized, there could be an increased risk of civil unrest across the country.
“Since the pandemic means that many of us will be voting by mail, and since some states may still be counting valid ballots after election day, many experts are predicting that we may not have a final result on election night.”
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The decision comes after has repeatedly indicated the if he loses to .
The president called mail-in voting into question – but Zuckerberg said could prepare for false claims about voter fraud and mail-in voting in advance.
“It's important that we prepare for this possibility in advance and understand that there could be a period of intense claims and counter-claims as the final results are counted," he wrote, adding that it could be a very "heated" period.
added that although he felt "the best antidote to bad speech is more speech," they may not have enough time to contest fake claims so close to the election.
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Facebook is planning to put "authoritative" information about the election at the top of people's and Facebook feeds.
Additionally, if any candidate or campaign tries to say they were the victor before the votes are in, Facebook will "add a label to their posts directing people to the official results from Reuters."
“I believe our democracy is strong enough to withstand this challenge and deliver a free and fair election — even if it takes time for every vote to be counted,” Zuckerberg said following the company's failures during the 2016 presidential election.
“We can do this. But it's going to take a concerted effort by all of us — political parties and candidates, election authorities, the media and social networks, and ultimately voters as well — to live up to our responsibilities."
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After repeatedly claiming the election would be "rigged" if Biden won, Trump went on to encourage people in to vote twice.
It is illegal to vote twice in an election – but urged his base this week.
"If it isn't tabulated, they'll be able to vote," he told the crowd in the battleground state. "If it's as good as they say it is, then obviously they won't be able to vote."
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