Facebook continues political ad ban as candidates prep for Georgia runoff

Facebook intends to extend its ban on political ads in the U.S. for another month.

The move is expected to impact digital ad preparations for the two Georgia Senate runoffs in January, which will decide control of Congress. 

“Given the ongoing conversation about the US presidential election, we’re continuing to temporarily pause all social issues, electoral or political ads in the US,” Facebook ad representatives wrote in an email announcement, according to POLITICO. “While multiple sources have projected a presidential winner, we still believe it’s important to help prevent confusion or abuse on our platform.”

Read More: Facebook bans ‘STOP THE STEAL’ group behind counting protests

theGRIO previously reported, there are two Senate runoff elections taking place Jan. 5 in the Peach State, pitting Democrat Jon Ossoff against Republican Sen. David Perdue, and Rev. Raphael Warnock against Sen. Kelly Loeffler.

These races are crucial, as the outcome will determine whether Republicans retain control of the Senate and Mitch McConnell remains Senate majority leader — an outcome spelling potential disaster for a President-elect Joe Biden and blocking progress for a Democratic agenda.

A win for Warnock and Ossoff would effectively give Democrats control of the U.S. Senate, with a 50-50 tie and Vice President Kamala Harris providing a tie-breaking vote in the upper chamber of Congress. 

Read More: Georgia Senate runoffs outcome could make or break Biden administration

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee noted that Facebook’s political ad ban disproportionately affects Ossoff and Warnock, ABC News reports. 

“Organic disinformation is the actual problem on these platforms, and continuing to ban ads is now actively harmful to organizations working to inform Georgia’s diverse voters about the January runoffs,” DSCC Executive Director Scott Fairchild said in a statement. “These ad bans are voter suppression plain and simple, they directly benefit Republican senators, and at a minimum there should be an exemption for ads in Georgia over the next two months.”

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