SAN FRANCISCO - Facebook on Thursday launched its voting information centre as Internet platforms unveiled fresh moves to protect the November US election from manipulation and interference.
Google separately announced new features for its search engine to provide detailed information about how to register and vote, directing users to local election administrators. The announcements come a day after an industry group that includes Google, Microsoft, Reddit, Pinterest and Twitter met with federal agencies including the FBI's foreign influence task force to step up coordination on election interference.
'HACK-AND-LEAK' Expected attacks include"hack-and-leak" tactics along the lines of those used against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016, Facebook said. Facebook is expecting malicious actors to try to exploit uncertainly about the election or promote violence while votes are being counted, which is expected to take longer than usual due to the pandemic prompting more people to vote by mail.
Facebook's latest moves come amid concerns over campaigns by governments aimed at influencing elections and public sentiment in other countries through media outlets that disguise their true origins.