--- title: "Meta to block political campaigns from using its AI tools for ads" description: "Plus, how advertiser's keyword blocklists hurt Black-owned publishing companies" date: "2023-11-09" authors: - name: "Emily Tomasik" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/newsletter/the-briefing/meta-to-block-political-campaigns-from-using-its-ai-tools-for-ads/" --- # Meta to block political campaigns from using its AI tools for ads [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/prc-logo.png){.aligncenter width=348}](https://www.pewresearch.org/prc-logo/) --- November 9, 2023 # The Briefing **☀️ Happy Thursday!** *This week we look at Meta’s new policy on AI in political ads, how advertisers’ keyword blocklists impact Black-owned publishing companies, and news outlets’ use of WhatsApp*.* [**Sign up here!**](https://www.pewresearch.org/sign-up-for-the-briefing/)* **In today*’*s email:** - **Top story:** Meta to bar political campaigns from using its AI advertising tools - **In other news:** How Black-owned publishing companies suffer from advertisers’ keyword blocklists - **Looking ahead:** News outlets' use of WhatsApp Channels - **Chart of the week:** The share of Republicans who say they follow the news has decreased substantially since 2016 🔥 **Top story** Meta [announced a new policy](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2023/11/08/meta-bans-political-ads-from-using-its-generative-ai-and-requires-disclosures-for-other-fake-images/?sh=49d2baf77ac8) to **bar political campaigns from using its generative AI **advertising tools. The policy will also require political advertisers to disclose the use of third-party AI software to fabricate depictions of people and events. It will take effect next year, ahead of the 2024 election. A [2020 Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/09/24/54-of-americans-say-social-media-companies-shouldnt-allow-any-political-ads/) found that 54% of Americans say social media companies **should not allow *any *political advertisements **on their platforms, while 19% say some political ads should be allowed. About a quarter (26%) say these firms should allow *all *political ads on their platforms. - 📌 **In other news** - How **Black-owned publishing companies** [suffer from advertisers’ keyword blocklists](https://digiday.com/media/black-owned-publishers-say-they-still-suffer-from-discriminatory-keyword-blocklists-miscategorized-content/) - CBS [announces new unit](https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cbs-launches-fact-checking-news-a-i-deepfakes-misinformation-1235781289/) dedicated to examining **misinformation and deepfakes** - Pending trial, **Turkey **[releases journalist](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-releases-senior-journalist-prison-pending-trial-2023-11-06/) previously imprisoned under “disinformation law” - A look at how **teachers are helping students **[develop media literacy skills](https://www.npr.org/2023/11/08/1210444566/like-it-or-not-kids-hear-the-news-heres-how-teachers-help-them-understand-it) - [Will Lewis named as next CEO](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/04/business/media/washington-post-will-lewis-chief-executive.html) of **The Washington Post** - **Palestinian journalists and creators** see [surges of followers](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/instagram-palestinian-journalists-digital-creators-document-gaza-strik-rcna123067) on Instagram 📅 **Looking ahead** This week, we look at **news dissemination on WhatsApp** and the app’s potential usage in the industry. News publishers around the world - such as La Nación, The New York Times, Vox, Chilango and The Times of India - have begun [experimenting with WhatsApp Channels](https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/11/how-13-news-publishers-are-using-whatsapp-channels/) to share news stories. A [2022 Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/fact-sheet/social-media-and-news-fact-sheet/#news-consumption-on-social-media) found that 26% of Americans use WhatsApp, although just one-in-ten WhatsApp users – or 3% of all U.S. adults – regularly get news there. 📊 **Chart of the week** In the wake of Election Day, we look at **how closely Americans of different political leanings **have been [following the news in recent years](https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/10/24/americans-are-following-the-news-less-closely-than-they-used-to/). In 2022, 37% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they follow news all or most of the time – a 20 percentage point decrease since 2016. Over the same period, the decline among Democrats and Democratic leaners was a more modest 7 points. [![A line chart showing a steep decline over time in share of Republicans who say they closely follow the news.](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SR_23.10.24_following-news_3.png){.aligncenter width=420}](https://www.pewresearch.org/?attachment_id=444509) --- *👋 That's all for this week. * The Briefing is compiled by Pew Research Center staff, including Naomi Forman-Katz, Jacob Liedke, Sarah Naseer, Christopher St. Aubin, Luxuan Wang and Emily Tomasik. It is edited by Katerina Eva Matsa, Michael Lipka and Mark Jurkowitz, and copy edited by Rebecca Leppert. *Do you like this newsletter? Email us at [journalism@pewresearch.org](mailto:journalism@pewresearch.org) or fill out this [two-question survey](https://us1.list-manage.com/survey?u=434f5d1199912232d416897e4&id=449f3c3d35&attribution=false) to tell us what you think*. --- [Update preferences]({{ update_preferences }})* * [View in browser](http://{{ blog_post }})* * [Unsubscribe]({{ unsubscribe_link }})* * [Facebook](https://facebook.com/pewresearch) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/pewresearch) [Instagram](https://instagram.com/pewresearch) Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank. As a neutral source of data and analysis, Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. © 2023 Pew Research Center