FB takes down several political ads by state outfits

KOCHI: Political outfits from the state were quite closefisted when it came to splurging on Facebook advertisements, reveal data from Ad Library, a searchable database of ads related to politics and issues of national importance run on Facebook or Instagram.


Several such ads were taken down by the Facebook as the parties failed to provide information on who was paying for it. Facebook began archiving the data starting February 2019.

The highest spend in Kerala seems to have been made by the Hindu Mahasabha Kerala – a measly Rs 3,765, but the report said the ad was taken down because it did not reveal who paid for it. The administrators of a page called the Congress Mission for 20/20 Kerala, which identifies itself as a youth organization, spent Rs 1,605 on five ads in support of the UDF in

Attingal

constituency, some of them which are still running. They were paid for by Shameer Kottalikudy Mohammed.

One of the ads was a promo for Niyaz Bharathi, former state vice-president of the Youth Congress, supporting his candidature in the Attingal constituency. These advertisements started running on March 8.

On February 8, CPM

Sreekandapuram

area committee ran an ad to promote their FB page by spending Rs 100, but it too was taken down by the FB as it was run without a disclaimer. Another ad by the Thodupuzha area committee of the CPM, which had the picture of power minister M M Mani inaugurating a house built by it for the poor, was also taken down by FB.

The ad by Kerala Government, the official page of the Information and public relation department, on pattayam distribution as the LDF government completes 1,000 days on which they spent Rs 524, was also taken down because it failed to reveal who was funding it.

Other ads that were taken down include that of Congress Kerala, Attingal Parliament constituency and one by Thiruvananthapuram MP, which promoted a post featuring Shashi Tharoor, MP’s visit to Ockhi-affected areas in Thiruvananthapuram.

Total ads during the period starting February was worth over Rs 4 crore according to an analysis. Nationally, the maximum spending – around 70% – were by pages supportive of the BJP, PM Narendra Modi and the Central government.


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