On Friday, Facebook announced a new policy that will require Facebook Pages with large U.S.-based audiences to go through an authentication process. According to Facebook, this will help crack down on fake accounts.
As Facebook explained, Facebook Pages, which are different from individual personal Facebook accounts, will be required to go through a two-factor authentication process to secure their accounts and verify their “primary country locations.”
Facebook states that Pages that will need to go through the authentication process will be notified at the top of their Pages and enforcement will begin “shortly this month.”
If Page administrators choose not to go through the authentication process, they will not be able to post on their Pages.
For regular users, Facebook is rolling out a feature for Pages that will allow them to see the history of the Facebook Page (whether it came from a previous Facebook Page) and a “People Who Manage This Page” section that will allow them to see the primary country locations of the Page administrators.
“Our goal is to prevent organizations and individuals from creating accounts that mislead people about who they are or what they're doing,” Facebook wrote. “These updates are part of our continued efforts to increase authenticity and transparency of Pages on our platform.”
This move comes after Facebook removed 32 Facebook Pages last month for suspected “coordinated inauthentic behavior.” One of the removed Facebook Pages, “Resisters,” organized a “No Unite The Right 2 - DC” event that received the support of real activists.
In April, Facebook’s verification process for political ads went into effect. Facebook pages that seek to run political ads must have a valid U.S. mailing address and show proof of identification.
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