Meta Unveils Stricter Policies on Political Ads Amidst Growing AI Concerns

29 Nov, 2023

Meta Unveils Stricter Policies on Political Ads Amidst Growing AI Concerns

In a Tuesday announcement, Meta shared further insights into its political advertising policies, emphasizing the need for advertisers to disclose the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in modifying images and videos within specific political ads.

Nick Clegg, Meta's President of Global Affairs, detailed the updated ad policies in a blog post, stating that they are "broadly consistent" with the social media giant's past approaches to advertising rules in previous election cycles.

A notable shift for the upcoming election season is the escalating adoption of AI technologies by advertisers, particularly in the creation of computer-generated visuals and text. Building on Meta's earlier November announcement, Clegg explained that, starting next year, advertisers will be mandated to reveal whether AI or related digital editing techniques were used "to create or alter a political or social issue ad in certain cases."

This disclosure requirement applies to ads featuring photorealistic images or videos, realistic-sounding audio digitally created or altered to depict a real person saying or doing something they did not, as well as depictions of non-existent realistic-looking persons or events. It also covers the alteration of real event footage or the portrayal of realistic events that allegedly occurred but are not true recordings.

Critics have previously chastised Meta, especially during the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, for its perceived failure to address and mitigate the spread of misinformation on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Meta faced scrutiny in 2019 when it permitted a digitally altered video of Nancy Pelosi, falsely suggesting intoxication, to remain on the site, though it was not an advertisement.

The surge in AI's role in creating deceptive ads poses a new challenge for Meta, especially after significant layoffs in its trust-and-safety team as part of cost-cutting measures earlier this year.

Additionally, Meta will implement a block on new political, electoral, and social issue ads during the final week of U.S. elections, a measure consistent with previous years. These restrictions will be lifted the day after the election concludes.