Google says it will not publish political ads after polls close on Election Day, citing the high possibility that final results will be delayed because of the shift to mail-in voting during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Given the likelihood of delayed election results this year, when polls close on November 3, we will pause ads referencing the 2020 election, the candidates, or its outcome. This is a temporary measure, and we’ll notify advertisers when this policy is lifted,” Google said in a statement.
It’s the latest move by a tech company to prepare for what is increasingly expected be a prolonged period of uncertainty while ballots are counted. Security researchers warn that could create opportunities for false claims and other misinformation to proliferate.
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