Twitter will pay $100,000 to Washington state to settle campaign finance violations. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office announced the settlement, resolving allegations that Twitter failed to properly disclose political advertising information.
The investigation centered on Twitter’s handling of political ads sold in Washington state. State law requires transparency in political advertising, ensuring voters know who is paying for the messages they see. The Attorney General’s office alleged that Twitter did not maintain the required records and make them publicly available as mandated by law.
Specifically, the complaint outlined that Twitter lacked a complete and accessible archive of political ads, hindering public access to vital information about campaign spending. This lack of transparency made it difficult for the public to track who was influencing elections through online advertising on the platform.
Under the terms of the settlement, in addition to the $100,000 payment, Twitter is required to improve its compliance with Washington’s campaign finance laws. This includes implementing measures to ensure proper record-keeping and public disclosure of political advertising information. This settlement underscores the importance of adhering to campaign finance regulations to maintain transparency and accountability in elections. It also serves as a reminder to social media platforms of their responsibility to provide information in advertising. Failure to do so will result in further investigations.
The Attorney General emphasized the need for all platforms to follow these regulations. Finishtit
