Let’s hold social media companies to the same standards for selling political ads as any other media. It’s important for an electorate to know when they are being solicited, and that some due diligence has been done to prevent foreign powers from influencing election outcomes. Please support this bill.

Knowing who’s paying for an ad is often more informative than the ad itself.

All political ads should be required to clearly disclose exactly who funds and endorsed it.

NoHedges, thanks. I agree the Honest Ads Act is a rational approach to a serious problem. I like Klobuchar’s approach generally. She seems to focus on the core of real issues and proposes practicable solutions which are given a lot of thought. I was really impressed by her CNN town hall talk on Climate change. Her approaches not only addressed key problems; they addressed key issues in transitioning getting from ‘here’ to ‘there’. She talked about the mechanics and timelines for transitioning workers from old industries to new opportunities, how to support that transition, how long it would take and what it would cost; Very detailed and very carefully thought out. Her legislative record reflects that clarity and depth of thought on real issues. I hope she picks up in the polls. She has good ideas and should be heard.

It is clear that the Russians used fake or misleading news on social media to influence the election. Whereas I understand that foreign powers will always try to influence our elections, the wise decision here is to do what we can to prevent this from happening again. It would also behoove Congress to restore the Fairness Doctrine, which would require news medias to offer at least one opposing opinion for their reports. Since it’s overturn in the 80s, we have seen a clear rise in combative partisanship, fueled by biased medias on both sides. We must do better.

This took too long to come up for vote. I'm glad it is finally here though. Still need more protections.

Yes to Honest Ads Act. While we are at it what about Honest News Act to stop Sinclair and others from trying to brainwash people with their dishonest news. We need to protect our elections from many predators, Big money and Gerrymandering included. Reinstating The Fairness Doctrine is another thing that is needed. Show people both sides of the story.

This includes PACs? Rich people buying ads? Foreigners, I would assume? Every ad, not just some fake law to stop the big bad Russians. It should also include all caucuses, all DNC, RNC, everyone backing that ad’s message listed after the ad.

Recent surveys show as many as two-thirds of Americans get at least a portion of their news from social media. This is largely the result of these online sites marketing themselves as reliable news sources. It is therefore imperative Facebook and other sites be held to the same standards as other media outlets. Squawking against it only indicates these monied moguls have prioritized personal profits over the welfare of the nation and the protection of democracy. So they can all cry me a frigging river. It is quite evident we have a problem that needs to be dealt with. Namely, our democracy is under attack from sources both foreign and domestic. The press is given certain wide sweeping protections in the first amendment. But these protections come with responsibility and the obligation that the free press be ever mindful of protecting our democracy. Democracy can not survive without a responsible, diligent free press. The media in general isn’t living up to their charge much of the time these days but instead too often engages in partisan politics with biased opinions offered up as truthful facts. In doing so they are inciting division, catering to the most base aspects of who we are and ripping the heart out of this great republic. You know what else is helping destroy this nation? Greedy tech giants allowing lies and misinformation to be spread by those who mean us harm just so they can add to their already ludicrous personal wealth. Nope. Enough already. Support this bill!

People or companies outside the United States should not be allowed to have any influence on the United States election as they will have no direct effect on them.

I don’t understand why you wouldn’t support this. I freely admit that I know no more about this than what I’ve read here, but from what I see this is in no way even remotely an infringement on free speech. It is, quite literally, “A bill to enhance transparency and accountability for online political advertisements by requiring those who purchase and publish such ads to disclose information about the advertisements to the public”. How is this censorship? This is simply letting the public see who is paying for what political ads and why. It’s already being done for TV and radio. How can this not be a good thing? Doesn’t this give more power to the people to be able to know who is influencing their lives and let them make appropriate decisions on this new information? Transparency from companies is a good thing, right?

I work in the digital advertising field and know how easy it is to target people of all political variations and dispositions on issues. This needs regulation because these tech giants continue to rake in money and don't want any push back and clearly don't care enough. Facebook lied for years about how stories and news is chosen and favored (it was dozens of contractors in a separate unmarked office facility that would yay or nay how viral news posts were) because their algorithm wasn't ready. This allowed partisan favorability based on who was clocked in. Imagine if any had malintent like Russia? This has probably been going on for years... Needs to end now!

Social media should be more transparent but funders should be completely transparent, not hiding behind an organization, and required to provide factual information....

I think that the politicians should be honest with us

Yes please. If we learn anything from this election it should be that absolute transparency in campaigning is necessary.

Why isn’t something like this already in place? Online platforms should have already been subject to same requirements regarding political ads as TV and radio. We should always know who is funding political advertisements no matter where they are being aired.

There’s so much bias in this country, that knowing who is paying for what will help us, as voters, stay informed as to what and who we are voting for.

Yes. This along with campaign finance reform reducing maximum campaign funding to less than $1 per constituency within a candidates jurisdiction. Also, any false claims shall be subject to a fine equivalent to $10 per constituency and made payable to the constituency.