Google, Facebook lobby group asks for clearer ad disclosure laws

Bloomberg

The Internet Association, a Washington-based group with members that include Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc., is advising lawmakers to clarify the responsibility of advertising platforms ahead of
the companies’ testimony
to Congress on the extent
of Russian influence on
their networks.
The lobbying group wrote a series of principles, suggesting that the Federal Election Commission should regulate online advertising disclosure with a uniform standard across the country.
The document also urges legislation to require all ad platforms to publicly disclose political advertising information. The Internet Association, which is consensus-based and speaks for all of its more than 40 members, spent $900,000 on lobbying in the first three quarters of the year, according to federal filings. The release of its principles comes after growing calls from lawmakers to propose new limits on online political ads.
Senators introduced a bill that would require digital platforms with at least 50 million monthly viewers to maintain a public file of all election-related ads from people who purchase at least $500 worth of such advertising on their network. The trade association’s set of principles also urges lawmakers to consider transparency and freedom of speech.
Executives from Google, Facebook and Twitter have been summoned to Washington to give public testimony before congressional committees. The companies have already announced efforts to be more transparent and self-regulate, seeking to avoid more costly regulation.