Twitter To Verify Identity of Advertisers On Public Policy

In an effort to increase transparency and prevent foreign meddling on its service ahead of the U.S. midterm elections., Twitter Inc. will require that advertisers advocating for public policy issues verify their identity and location reports Bloomberg.

Twitter in a blog post on Thursday (30 August) said that the new policy will affect “legislative issues of national importance,” including abortion, civil rights and immigration.

The disclosure requirements comes at the backdrop of allegations about foreign manipulation and the way the company supervises content on its platform where Twitter Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey was required to testify in front of Congress. Twitter is trying to curb malicious actors from spreading propaganda and manipulating conversation.

Advertisers on topics such as abortion, civil rights and immigration must apply for certification and their purchases will be labeled as “issue” ads in Twitter users’ timelines, similar to the rules announced in May for ads from political candidates. The company said those on the social-media platform will be able to see what organization is promoting the ads and access more information.