Seattle Says Facebook Has Violated Its Political Ad Law

The election authority of Seattle, Washington, claimed on Monday that Facebook is in violation of 1977 campaign finance law, which should disclosure about more details about who buys election ads.

According to the 1977 campaign finance law, people who accept advertising dollars from political campaigns be transparent with the public about the “exact nature and extent of the advertising services.” and Wayne Barnett, executive director of the Seattle Ethics and Elections Commission, said in a statement that Facebook must disclose specific details about who bought the ads in last year’s Seattle city elections, or it could be liable for up to $5,000 per advertising buy.

Last Friday, Facebook posted a two-page spreadsheet, which listed such details like candidate names, Facebook page names, addresses and total spend, but Barnett said that this response “doesn’t come close to meeting their public obligation.”