FYI [scusandomi per il layout osceno, dovuto, immagino al progresso editoriale dei sistemi di email]

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From: EPIC Alert <alert@epic.org <mailto:alert@epic.org>> Subject: [EPIC NEWS] EPIC Alert 24.21 Date: 15 November 2017 at 23:09:04 GMT+1 To: diego.latella@isti.cnr.it <mailto:diego.latella@isti.cnr.it> Reply-To: EPIC Alert <alert@epic.org <mailto:alert@epic.org>>

EPIC Alert 24.21 November 15, 2017 View this email in your browser <https://epic.org/alert/epic_alert_24.21.html> Defend Privacy. Support EPIC. <https://epic.org/support>

Defend Privacy. Support EPIC. <https://epic.org/donate/> EPIC Alert 24.21 - November 15, 2017

[… OMISSIS ...] EPIC Promotes ‘Algorithmic Transparency’ for Political Ads [… OMISSIS …] [ … OMISSIS …]

[ … OMISSIS …] 2. EPIC Promotes ‘Algorithmic Transparency’ for Political Ads

EPIC has submitted comments <https://epic.org/algorithmic-transparency/EPIC-FEC-PoliticalAds-Nov2017.pdf> to the Federal Election Commission promoting new rules <https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CFR-2010-title11-vol1/pdf/CFR-2010-title11-vol...> that would establish transparency for online political ads. EPIC proposed that the FEC: (1) impose at least the same disclosure requirements for internet communications as for broadcast and print communications—including who paid for the communication—and (2) require algorithmic transparency <https://epic.org/algorithmic-transparency/> for targeted political advertisements that appear on platforms such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter. EPIC said that voters should “know as much about advertisers as advertisers know about voters.”

The FEC previously considered disclosure requirements for online political advertisements in 2011, when the Commission first issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking <https://www.fec.gov/updates/advance-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-for-intern...>. The FEC reopened the public comment period in 2016 <https://www.fec.gov/updates/commission-seeks-comments-on-internet-disclaimer...>, and then again in October <https://www.fec.gov/updates/advance-nprm-internet-disclaimer-notices-reopene...>, stating that it sought additional comments “in light of developments” since 2016. It has yet to undertake a rulemaking, however.

Under the FEC’s current rules <https://www.fec.gov/regulations/110-11/2017-annual-110#110-11>, certain communications are exempt from the disclaimer requirements that apply to traditional print, radio, and television advertisements. These exemptions include advertisements with space limitations, such as those placed on “bumper stickers pins, buttons,” and other small items. The FEC has applied this exemption to internet advertisements but noted <http://sers.fec.gov/fosers/showpdf.htm?docid=357882> that “technological options may allow for the display of disclaimers when a user ‘hovers’ or ‘rolls’ over the advertisement.” EPIC noted that “URL shortening tools” could also be used.

Senators Klobuchar (D-MN), Warner (D-VA), and McCain (R-AZ) have introduced a bipartisan bill <https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/s1989/BILLS-115s1989is.pdf> that would require the same disclosures for online political advertisements as for print and broadcast advertisements.

In view of evidence that Russia used online advertisements to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, EPIC implored the FEC to fulfill its role to protect the integrity of elections. “The need to protect democratic institutions from foreign adversaries has never been greater,” EPIC wrote. EPIC is fully engaged in the challenge of preserving and promoting democratic institutions and election integrity with its Project on Democracy and Cybersecurity <https://epic.org/democracy/>. EPIC has four pending FOIA cases, EPIC v. FBI <https://epic.org/foia/fbi/russian-hacking/>, EPIC v. ODNI <https://epic.org/foia/odni/russian-hacking/>, EPIC v. IRS <https://epic.org/foia/irs/trump-taxes/>, and EPIC v. DHS <https://epic.org/foia/dhs/cybersecurity/russian-interference/default.html> seeking records pertaining to Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Back issues are available at: https://www.epic.org/alert <https://www.epic.org/alert>

Copyright © 2017 Electronic Privacy Information Center, All rights reserved. <http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2Fepic%2...> Share <http://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2Fepic%2...> <http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%5B%5BEPIC+NEWS%5D+EPIC+Alert+24.21:%20...> Tweet <http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=%5B%5BEPIC+NEWS%5D+EPIC+Alert+24.21:%20...> <http://us8.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=21f268dd7c516fe1339a07557&id=6eeb...> Forward <http://us8.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=21f268dd7c516fe1339a07557&id=6eeb...> Dott. Diego Latella - Senior Researcher CNR-ISTI, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy (http:www.isti.cnr.it) FM&&T Lab. (http://fmt.isti.cnr.it <http://fmt.isti.cnr.it/>) http://www.isti.cnr.it/People/D.Latella <http://www.isti.cnr.it/People/D.Latella> - ph: +390506212982, mob: +39 348 8283101, fax: +390506212040 =================== The quest for a war-free world has a basic purpose: survival. But if in the process we learn how to achieve it by love rather than by fear, by kindness rather than compulsion; if in the process we learn how to combine the essential with the enjoyable, the expedient with the benevolent, the practical with the beautiful, this will be an extra incentive to embark on this great task. Above all, remember your humanity. -- Sir Joseph Rotblat Dott. Diego Latella - Senior Researcher CNR-ISTI, Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy (http:www.isti.cnr.it) FM&&T Lab. (http://fmt.isti.cnr.it) http://www.isti.cnr.it/People/D.Latella - ph: +390506212982, mob: +39 348 8283101, fax: +390506212040 =================== The quest for a war-free world has a basic purpose: survival. But if in the process we learn how to achieve it by love rather than by fear, by kindness rather than compulsion; if in the process we learn how to combine the essential with the enjoyable, the expedient with the benevolent, the practical with the beautiful, this will be an extra incentive to embark on this great task. Above all, remember your humanity. -- Sir Joseph Rotblat