Twitter says it has stopped blocking French government ads calling on people to vote after it came under fire from authorities for being overzealous in applying a law aimed at banning fake news.
FILE - This April 26, 2017 file photo shows the Twitter app icon on a mobile phone in Philadelphia. Twitter said Thursday April 4, 2019, it has stopped blocking French government ads calling on people to vote after it came under fire from authorities for being overzealous in applying a law aimed at banning fake news. mail
The social media company modified its policy after executives met with French government officials, saying it has now decided to authorize such ads "after many exchanges." The incident highlights the challenge Silicon Valley tech giants face complying with tighter regulations from governments trying to clamp down on false information and prevent foreign interference in elections. The EU's executive Commission, in its latest monthly report on tech companies' efforts to fight election-related disinformation, criticized Twitter for not taking action to improve ad scrutiny or report on what it has done to protect its ad services against manipulation.
French officials had criticized the company. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner tweeted that its focus should be stopping content promoting terrorism, not voter registration.
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