British Government pulls adverts from Facebook - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 8th Aug 2007, 09:18

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/08...rom_facebook/1

The British government has pulled all of its advertising from the popular social networking site, Facebook.

DougEdey · 8th Aug 2007, 09:38

I don't understand, surely advertising to the BNP will make them angry, do something idiotic, and get more BNP members arrested?

What were the ads anyway? The new anti drug ones are quite funny, but the drink-driving one on TV is good.

Bauul · 8th Aug 2007, 10:24

Maybe it's stuff like "join the army!" and they don't want BNP crazies wandering around with guns. Or maybe it's just an old policy.

Either way, I'm kind of surprised Facebook hasn't implemented this already, it can hardly be a massive step to add "do not display advert on any groups that list themselves as 'political'" onto the advert's coding.

steveo_mcg · 8th Aug 2007, 10:44

Quote:

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

1984

Perforated · 8th Aug 2007, 11:47

...so, the government won't advertise to people with different political views to them? Now that is one WEIRD bit of logic there, "we will only preach to the converted".

Adverts appearing on the BNP page should not be an issue. There is no connotation of acceptance or condonement in having them there, the money paid for the advertising doesn't go to the BNP. Actually, it seems the perfect way to get a message to BNP supporters.

Money going to a site that facilitates the BNP might be more of an understandable complaint, but would also have uncomfortable freedom of speech connotations... Facebook lets everyone have a page, so reprehensible as the BNP may be, they have a right to a page. All the more reason to use the ads to infiltrate the page a little to try & get messages accross!

Boswell · 8th Aug 2007, 11:56

I believe the companies just don't want to be related to the BNP (I guess its the same for the government...). Here is a link to the bbc article (with quotes from spokesmen/women of the companies explaining their reasons) - doesn't say anything about the government though.

Ed

8th Aug 2007, 09:18	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	British Government pulls adverts from Facebook http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/08...rom_facebook/1 The British government has pulled all of its advertising from the popular social networking site, Facebook. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

8th Aug 2007, 09:38	#2
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	I don't understand, surely advertising to the BNP will make them angry, do something idiotic, and get more BNP members arrested? What were the ads anyway? The new anti drug ones are quite funny, but the drink-driving one on TV is good. __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

8th Aug 2007, 10:24	#3
Bauul Sir Bongaminge Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Godalming, near Guildford Posts: 1,553	Maybe it's stuff like "join the army!" and they don't want BNP crazies wandering around with guns. Or maybe it's just an old policy. Either way, I'm kind of surprised Facebook hasn't implemented this already, it can hardly be a massive step to add "do not display advert on any groups that list themselves as 'political'" onto the advert's coding. __________________ Pentium 4 CPU 3.4 Ghz \| 1Gb + 2x512Mb Corsair DDR2 667 Mhz Sapphire Radeon HD 4770 512Mb\| WD Raptor 36Gb, Seagate 300Gb \| Asus P5LD2 SE Ibanez RG 470 Japanese Edition \| 1991 Japanese Lo-TRS Tremolo \| V7 S1 Custom V8 HSH Pickups

8th Aug 2007, 11:56	#6
Boswell Eddy-B Join Date: May 2005 Location: Bristol, England Posts: 941	I believe the companies just don't want to be related to the BNP (I guess its the same for the government...). Here is a link to the bbc article (with quotes from spokesmen/women of the companies explaining their reasons) - doesn't say anything about the government though. Ed __________________ \|\|Q6400@3.6Ghz\|8800GT\|4GB Ram\|2TB\|\|

8th Aug 2007, 11:47	#5
Perforated Modder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kent, UK Posts: 65	...so, the government won't advertise to people with different political views to them? Now that is one WEIRD bit of logic there, "we will only preach to the converted". Adverts appearing on the BNP page should not be an issue. There is no connotation of acceptance or condonement in having them there, the money paid for the advertising doesn't go to the BNP. Actually, it seems the perfect way to get a message to BNP supporters. Money going to a site that facilitates the BNP might be more of an understandable complaint, but would also have uncomfortable freedom of speech connotations... Facebook lets everyone have a page, so reprehensible as the BNP may be, they have a right to a page. All the more reason to use the ads to infiltrate the page a little to try & get messages accross!