US lawmakers want crackdown on Facebook, Twitter political ads

Social media companies have become an increasing focus of congressional investigations into allegations that Russia sought to meddle in the 2016 US election.

WASHINGTON: US lawmakers, alarmed that foreign entities used the Internet to influence last year's election, introduced legislation on Thursday to extend rules governing political advertising on television, print and radio to also cover social media like Facebook Inc.

Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar and Mark Warner and Republican John McCain introduced the "Honest Ads Act," one of the strongest efforts in Congress yet to address allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign.