PakNews: Facebook to Stop Accepting Campaign Ads in Washington State

Facebook’s decision is also in response to one of the country’s most assertive campaign finance disclosure regulations for digital advertising, which will be enforced by Washington’s Public Disclosure Commission starting Jan. 1.“As we continue to address the Public Disclosure Commission’s new requirements going into effect in the New Year, we’re pausing state and local electoral ads in Washington state by the end of December,” Beth Gautier, a spokeswoman for Facebook said in a written statement. Key InsightsThe lawsuit and settlements were among the first stemming from campaign finance allegations against either company.California, New York and Maryland also have newly created digital transparency requirements to regulate state campaigns, mirroring federal law.“While $400,000 is a drop in the bucket, it does send an important message that companies can’t evade transparency requirements and expect to get away with it,” said Brendan Fischer, director of the Federal Reform program at the Campaign Legal Center.