UPI – “Facebook said [August 28, 2019] it’s changing company policies to add transparency and clarify exactly who pays for political advertisements that appear on its social platform. The company said it wants to avoid a repeat of the 2016 election, in which Russian actors spread disinformation and encouraged divisiveness online through targeted ads. “People should know who is trying to influence their vote and advertisers shouldn’t be able to cover up who is paying for ads,” Facebook said in a statement Wednesday. “Today, we’re sharing additional steps we’re taking to protect elections and prepare for the U.S. 2020 election.” Facebook began requiring “paid for by” disclaimers last year, but said advertisers often filled them with misleading information. “Starting mid-September, advertisers will need to provide more information about their organization before we review and approve their disclaimer,” the company said. “If they do not provide this information by mid-October, we will pause their ads.” Groups must provide a U.S. street address, phone number and matching business contact information. They must also provide either a tax registration number, a government website domain or Federal Election Commission identification number. Qualified ads will carry a “Confirmed Organization” tag…” [h/t Pete Weiss]