Ireland – Facebook ‘took matters into own hands’ over pro-life ads

Facebook ‘took matters into own hands’ over pro-life ads
Social media site opted to ban foreign influences in referendum on eighth amendment after Irish officials failed to offer legal guidance, claims chief Mark Zuckerberg

Brian Mahon
July 14 2019
The Sunday Times

Mark Zuckerberg, the chairman and chief executive of Facebook, has revealed his company consulted Irish officials about whether to allow pro-life ads from America on the social media platform during last year’s abortion referendum.

Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado in June, Zuckerberg said that in response to his request for guidance, his company was told to take whatever decision it saw fit.

Continued: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/facebook-took-matters-into-own-hands-over-pro-life-ads-jbct26vnk

14.07.2019

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The young Americans trying to stop Ireland from voting Yes to abortion

The young Americans trying to stop Ireland from voting Yes to abortion

By Kara Fox, CNN
Wed May 23, 2018

Dublin (CNN) Emily Faulkner is in central Dublin, handing out leaflets featuring fetuses in various stages of development, when she's pelted by an egg.

Covered in yolk, she turns to her fiancé, Nathan Berning, who has a GoPro video camera mounted on his chest.

"Did you get that on tape? Is it on, babe? Turn it on," she says.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/23/europe/ireland-abortion-referendum-american-campaigners-intl/index.html

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

‘Dark ads’ cast a shadow over Ireland’s referendum on abortion

'Dark ads' cast a shadow over Ireland's referendum on abortion

By Kara Fox, CNN
Fri May 18, 2018

Dublin (CNN)Attempts by Facebook and Google to tackle "dark ads" and foreign interference in the run-up to Ireland's referendum on abortion haven't been entirely successful, data from a transparency group seen by CNN has shown.

The Transparent Referendum Initiative (TRI), a volunteer organization set up to monitor social-media posts about the referendum has collected ads from 180 Facebook groups targeting Irish voters.

Continued: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/18/tech/ireland-abortion-referendum-facebook-google-intl/index.html

Ireland can agree on this: the abortion decision is not up to Mark Zuckerberg

Ireland can agree on this: the abortion decision is not up to Mark Zuckerberg
A lack of regulatory oversight means tech companies could play a significant role in the Irish referendum

Gavin Sheridan
Sun 13 May 2018

Irish voters go to the polls on 25 May to decide whether or not to repeal the eighth amendment to our constitution. Inserted in 1983 this clause gives equal constitutional legal protection to the rights of the unborn child and its mother, and makes it almost impossible to legislate for abortion. Polling suggests the proposed repeal will pass. But the decision is one of the most contentious issues Irish voters have ever faced.

As with the many past Irish referendums, the campaign posters for each side – some of them with graphic imagery – went up first. Posters are a strictly regulated part of campaigns under Irish electoral law. TV and radio advertisements are not allowed.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/13/ireland-abortion-mark-zuckerberg-referendum

Facebook bans foreign ads for Eighth Amendment referendum

Facebook bans foreign ads for Eighth Amendment referendum
Social media group says move is designed protect the ’integrity’ of elections and referendums from ’undue influence’

May 8, 2018
Ciara O'Brien

Facebook will no longer accept foreign advertisements relating to the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment. The ban will apply to ads that have been paid for by organisations outside Ireland.

The move, which came into force on Tuesday, comes amid concerns that organisations and individuals based outside the country would try to influence the outcome of the referendum through Facebook ad campaigns.

Continued: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/abortion-referendum/facebook-bans-foreign-ads-for-eighth-amendment-referendum-1.3487895

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

Foreign and ‘alt-right’ activists target Irish voters on Facebook ahead of abortion referendum

Foreign and 'alt-right' activists target Irish voters on Facebook ahead of abortion referendum

Claire Provost and Lara Whyte
25 April 2018

New data shows how social media has become a battleground in a transatlantic backlash against abortion rights for Irish women.

Under Irish law, foreign citizens and groups are not allowed to make donations to Irish campaign groups. But these rules don't apply to advertising on social media platforms, prompting campaigners to call for an urgent change in the law

Continued: https://www.opendemocracy.net/5050/claire-provost-lara-whyte/north-american-anti-abortion-facebook-ireland-referendum