Requirements for social media companies to disclose who is behind political ads on their platforms are unlikely to go into effect prior to this year’s midterm elections, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) said Thursday.
“The commission has been reluctant to change the rules of the game in the middle of the election season, so that would be something we would want to seriously consider,” FEC Chairwoman Caroline Hunter told reporters.
The Washington Post reported that the commission on Thursday delayed a scheduled vote on proposed new rules because of ongoing disagreement over dueling Republican and Democratic proposals.
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Instead, commissioners will meet next week to present a single proposal. They will then begin a public comment process, which Hunter said will take “a little bit of time.”
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The six-member commission has two vacancies. Hunter, the chairwoman, is a Republican.
After congressional hearings where representatives from Facebook, Twitter and Google faced questions on how Russians used their platforms to promote fake stories and political propaganda, some lawmakers have pressed for tighter disclosure requirements.
Facebook, Twitter and Google have said they support bringing more transparency to the digital ad process, but declined to support legislation introduced last year by Sen. Amy KlobucharAmy KlobucharHillicon Valley: Biden calls on Facebook to change political speech rules | Dems demand hearings after Georgia election chaos | Microsoft stops selling facial recognition tech to police Democrats demand Republican leaders examine election challenges after Georgia voting chaos Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-Minn.) intended to do so.
Google then said in November that it would support the FEC implementing new disclosure rules for online political ads, adding that online platforms could use clearer regulations.