November 21, 2019

Wyden Welcomes Google Decision to Stop Microtargeting Political Ads

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today praised Google’s decision to end microtargeting of political ads, which it announced last night. Wyden first called for an end to microtargeted online ads in August, and again in additional views to the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on election interference released in October.

“Google’s decision to stop microtargeting political ads is a welcome and commendable step that will improve America’s defenses against foreign interference in the 2020 election,” Wyden said. “As I wrote in October, targeted influence campaigns are more effective and more cost-effective than blanket propaganda, and far harder to identify and expose. The fact that Facebook’s ad transparency tools don’t apply to services like Custom Audiences, is especially concerning and makes it impossible for voters to know why they are being targeted with ad campaigns. Now that Google and Twitter have taken responsible steps to guard against shadowy political influence campaigns, Facebook should do the same, rather than continuing to chase political advertising dollars.”

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