Facebook to block foreign ads ahead of Australian election

Facebook will block election advertising from outside Australia ahead of polls next month.

The move follows growing criticism of the social media giant’s role in the spread of disinformation, AFP said.

The restrictions – already rolled out for polls in Thailand and Indonesia – will come into force when the government announces the election date in the coming days.

“We’re temporarily not allowing electoral ads purchased from outside Australia ahead of the election in May,” Facebook’s Australia and New Zealand policy director Mia Garlick said.

The restriction will apply “to ads we determine to be coming from foreign entities that are of an electoral nature, meaning they contain references to politicians, parties or election suppression,” Garlick added.