Social media under microscope in emotive Irish abortion vote

Social media under microscope in emotive Irish abortion vote

21 May 2018

DUBLIN (AP) — In homes and pubs, on leaflets and lampposts, debate is raging in Ireland over whether to lift the country's decades-old ban on abortion. Pro-repeal banners declare: "Her choice: vote yes." Anti-abortion placards warn against a "license to kill."

Online, the argument is just as charged — and more shadowy, as unregulated ads of uncertain origin battle to sway voters before Friday's referendum, which could give Irish women the right to end their pregnancies for the first time.

Continued: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/en/22_05_2018/world/33318/Social-media-under-microscope-in-emotive-Irish-abortion-vote.htm


Ireland – Rising number of unregulated online ads in abortion campaign

Rising number of unregulated online ads in abortion campaign
Government may need to seek change in law to govern online campaigning – McEntee

May 2, 2018
Pat Leahy

A Fine Gael Minister, a Fianna Fáil TD and an independent senator have all warned in recent days about the growing proliferation of unregulated online advertisements in the abortion referendum campaign.

Minister for European Affairs Helen McEntee said Government may need to seek a change in the law to govern online campaigning in the future, but encouraged Yes campaigners to “call out” misleading or false advertising by No campaigners.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/rising-number-of-unregulated-online-ads-in-abortion-campaign-1.3481842


Facebook launches transparency tool for Irish abortion vote

Facebook launches transparency tool for Irish abortion vote

30 Apr 2018

A new tool from Facebook that allows users in Ireland to view the sources of sponsored posts ahead of a referendum on abortion rights fails the test of true transparency on the platform, say critics.

Launched initially on April 25 as part of a transparency pilot program, the View Ads feature shows Irish users all ads any Facebook page is promoting to people in Ireland, even if those ads are not in their individual news feed.

Continued: https://www.wikitribune.com/story/2018/04/30/internet/facebook-launches-transparency-tool-in-ireland-for-abortion-vote/68061/


American Pro-Lifers Are Using Facebook To Sway Ireland’s Abortion Debate

American Pro-Lifers Are Using Facebook To Sway Ireland's Abortion Debate

By Jason Murdock
On 4/26/18

Facebook accounts managed by pro-life activists living in the U.S. are reportedly being used to influence the opinions of voters ahead of Ireland’s May 25 referendum on repealing the country’s strict abortion ban.

On Wednesday, Facebook launched a new transparency tool in Ireland designed to provide clarity over how ads are served, but admitted that because it was still in the pilot stage it would not yet show who was funding them.

Continued: http://www.newsweek.com/american-pro-lifers-are-using-facebook-sway-irelands-abortion-debate-902355


Why are polls and Facebook ads at odds in Ireland’s abortion referendum?

Why are polls and Facebook ads at odds in Ireland's abortion referendum?
By Ammar Ebrahim

BBC Trending
14 April 2018

While opinion polls show a comfortable lead for the pro-choice side in an upcoming referendum on abortion in Ireland, one set of figures indicates pro-life paid adverts are gaining more traction on Facebook.

On 25 May, Ireland will vote on whether to keep the 8th amendment to the country's constitution, which states that the life of a mother and an unborn baby are equal. It's the basis for Irish laws which make abortion illegal in all but life-threatening cases.

Continued: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-43758286