**Election Officials Struggle with Misinformation on Social Media**
With the November 5 election just around the corner, state and local officials are facing a daunting task: combating the spread of misinformation on social media. Despite efforts to fact-check and remove false content, officials say they’re receiving little effective help from tech companies like Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.
In Durham County, North Carolina, Director of Elections Derek Bowens recently dealt with a viral post spreading misinformation about voting. The post claimed that voters should request new ballots if a poll worker writes anything on their form, which is false. Bowens says the post was not flagged as misinformation, and it took a press release from the North Carolina State Board of Elections to stop its spread.
Across the US, officials are struggling to counteract misinformation on social media. In Arizona, Communications Director Taylor Kinnerup says her team uses social media to distribute accurate election information, but they’ve faced issues with their Facebook and Instagram accounts being unlinked, making it difficult to reach voters.
In Wisconsin, Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell says his office’s Facebook posts get very little traction, and many of his colleagues have stopped posting about elections due to abuse and harassment. In Los Angeles County, Chief Deputy Jeramy Gray says small government offices lack the resources to effectively utilize social media and troubleshoot problems.
Election officials are calling for more engagement and assistance from tech companies like Meta, which has scaled back its trust and safety teams as part of cost-cutting efforts. Meta says it has around 40,000 people globally working on safety and security, and partners with about 100 third-party fact-checking groups across the globe.
However, officials say they’re not seeing the necessary support to combat misinformation. As the election approaches, officials are working overtime to ensure the safety and integrity of the election, but they’re receiving little effective help from tech companies.
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