IAN: THIS ELECTION CYCLE, SECRETARIES OF STATE NATIONWIDE HAVE LAUNCHED AN EFFORT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ACCURATE INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY WITH SO MUCH SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE TALKED WITH CANDIDATES ABOUT DISINFORMATION, INCLUDING WHAT ROLE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES PLAY IN STOPPING THE SPREAD OF IT.
WE’LL START WITH STANLEY ADAIR WHO IS BEHIND SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES MAKING SURE THEY VERIFY WHERE THE POLITICAL ADS ARE COMING FROM.
>> AND I THINK THAT’S A GOOD THING BECAUSE PEOPLE GET ON THERE, START A FAKE SITE, AND PUT A LOT OF INFO ON THERE THAT CAN HARM A CANDIDATE.
I THINK IT’S MOST IMPORTANT THAT FOLKS VOTING VET CANDIDATES, VET YOUR CANDIDATES.
KNOW WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT AND WHAT YOU ARE VOTING FOR.
IAN: CONGRESSMAN BRADLEY BYRNE SAYS WHETHER THERE ARE LAWS ON THE BOOKS THAT REQUIRE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES TO TAKE THE LEAD ON ADDRESSING DISINFORMATION, THEY SHOULD STEP UP.
>> I THINK THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY.
I THINK EVERYONE IN WASHINGTON HAS MADE THAT CLEAR TO THEM.
THEY’VE GOT TO BE ON THEIR TOES TOO.
BECAUSE THEY DO USE THOSE PLATFORMS TO GET THAT MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.
I WOULD HOPE AS WE GO THROUGH THIS ELECTION YEAR THEY PLEDGE TO DO IT.
IAN: WE WANT TO NOTE THAT WE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO ARRANGE A TIME FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF SESSIONS AND RUTH PAGE NELSON TO JOIN US IN STUDIO FOR AN INTERVIEW, BUT WE WERE NOT ABLE
TO DO SO.
YOU CAN SEE THE FULL INTERVIEWS FROM THE CANDIDATES WE SPOKE WITH RIGHT NOW ON THE WVTM 13 APP, JUST CLICK IN THE POLITICS SECTION.
YOU WILL HEAR