Facebook exec says company will build an API for machine-readable access to info on ads in political-ad archive, but researchers worry that may not be enough
Alexis C. Madrigal / The Atlantic : Tweets: @facebook , @juliaangwin , @yayitsrob , and @profcarroll Tweets: @facebook : Thanks @JuliaAngwin. You've done a lot to uncover issues in our ads systems, which we've worked hard to fix. This new API is an important step towards greater transparency + other changes we're making like view ads and the archive going back 7 years for all political & issue ads. http://twitter.com/... Julia Angwin / @juliaangwin : This story buried the lede: Facebook says it will build an API for political advertising. When that happens, it will be a big win for transparency. Citizens should be able to see and fact-check all election communications. https://www.theatlantic.com/ ... pic.twitter.com/aeF5uIP2L1 Robinson Meyer / @yayitsrob : A HUGE part of Facebook's current turnaround story is their new ad transparency tool. But that tool reveals almost nothing right now. It can't detect discrimination and it wouldn't reveal Russian-style interference, @alexismadrigal reports: http://www.theatlantic.com/... David Carroll / @profcarroll : As Congress releases all the RU IRA Facebook/Instagram ads, experts are asked if Facebook's new View Ads transparency feature would have helped catch the troll factory in the act: “No.” http://www.theatlantic.com/... by @alexismadrigal