Facebook to Require 'Issue' Advertisers to Confirm Identities

Separately on Friday, consumer groups filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, saying Facebook violates users' privacy rights through its facial-recognition software. In October, Facebook unveiled a similar authorization requirement for election-related ads. The latest move will cover "issue ads"--those that don't specifically mention a candidate but weigh in on a divisive issue, including during an election campaign. Such advertisers will be required to confirm their identities and locations with the company. The change marks the latest step in Facebook's efforts to secure its platform after Russian-backed groups used the social network to sow divisions before and after the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and elsewhere in the world.