Read a PDF of our statement here.

LDF Responds to Facebook’s New Policy on False Voter Information Ahead of Election

Todd Cox, Director of Policy at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) issued the following statement in response to Facebook’s new policy regarding misinformation on voting in upcoming U.S. elections:

“For over a year, LDF has been engaged with Facebook in vigorous conversations about how the platform was used as a tool for voter suppression during the 2016 Presidential election. We commend Facebook for publishing its updated policyregarding false voter information published on its platform although we remain very concerned about their decision to leave voting information on its platform despite knowing it is false. Though more work remains to be done, we are pleased at the progress that has been made thanks to Facebook’s agreement to partner and consult with the civil rights community, including LDF. We look forward to learning how this policy will be implemented, and assessing its impact. We will continue to work with Facebook as the 2018 election draws closer and to urge the platform to ensure that the problems which surfaced two years ago are not repeated. We will remain vigilant against attempts on Facebook and other platforms to deter African Americans and other racial and religious minorities from exercising their constitutional right to vote.”

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Founded in 1940, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization and has been completely separate from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) since 1957—although LDF was originally founded by the NAACP and shares its commitment to equal rights. LDF’s Thurgood Marshall Institute is a multi-disciplinary and collaborative hub within LDF that launches targeted campaigns and undertakes innovative research to shape the civil rights narrative. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP Legal Defense Fund or LDF.

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