Facebook is tightening its rules around political vertising ahe of 2020 U.S. presidential election, ackwledging previous misuse. But it’s t clear if it will be eugh to stop b actors from abusing its system.

changes include a tightened verification process that will require anyone wanting to run s pertaining to elections, politics or big social issues like guns and immigration to confirm ir identity and prove y are in U.S. Beginning in mid-September, such vertisers confirm ir group’s identity using ir organization’s tax identification number or or government ID.

verified group name will be listed on “paid for by” disclaimers that disclose backers of s. Facebook says it will verify this information against government records and will te in disclaimer for confirmed s that y’re placed by a “confirmed organisation.”

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Facebook tightens political rules 

That process won’t apply to everyone, as Facebook says it would bar some smaller but legitimate groups from vertising. But a loophole that will allow small grassroots groups and local politicians to run political s could also continue to allow b actors to take vant of process.

vertisers who don’t have tax ID numbers, government websites or registrations with Federal Election Commission will still be able to post s by providing an dress, verifiable phone number, business email and website. se vertisers won’t get a “confirmed” designation. Previously, only a U.S. dress was required. But it’s t inconceivable that b actors will find a way to spoof phone numbers and email dresses.

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“We’ve ackwledged that se tools will t be perfect,” Sarah Schiff, a Facebook product manr, said in an email. “But we are committed to making it more difficult for b actors to misuse and abuse our platform” without penalising smaller organisations.

$5 billion FTC fine

Schiff also reiterated company’s calls for regulation of online political vertising. Critics have said that Facebook’s attempts at self-regulation are merely a way for company to pre-empt stricter government crackdowns.

Last month, Facebook was ordered to pay a $5 billion fine to Federal Tre Commission over privacy violations. It also faces a series of or investigations into its privacy practices in Europe and across U.S., in dition to new investigations into its allegedly anticompetitive behaviour, such as social network’s habit of buying would-be rivals like Instagram and blatantly duplicating features introduced by competing services.

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While company has beefed up its fight against misinformation and coordinated attacks by malicious nation-states, same can be said for those trying to game its systems. After revelations that that Russians bankrolled thousands of fake political s during 2016 elections, Facebook and or social networks faced intense pressure to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

In late 2017, Facebook said it will verify political buyers by requiring m to confirm ir names and locations, latter by receiving a postcard with a confirmation code at a U.S. dress. P ministrators also h to be verified.

But critics said rules were easy to eve. Last fall, for instance, Vice News was able to place s on behalf of likes of Vice President Mike Pence and Islamic State, which were all approved by Facebook.