Facebook launches service to monitor election

Facebook wants to protect elected officials from the dangers of Facebook.

On Monday, the social media giant announce a new service designed to further secure Facebook accounts affiliated with election campaigns. Dubbed Facebook Protect, the program hopes to help current or would-be elected officials — along with any of their staff — follow best cybersecurity practices and avoid getting hacked.

The program, of course, is voluntary. However, that doesn't mean there isn't a long list of people who Facebook suggests should hop on this security train.

Specifically, Facebook says the service is open to "candidates, elected officials, federal and state departments and agencies, and party committees, as well as their staff."

With cybersecurity and email hacks playing a major role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and reports that social media-directed interference in U.S. elections has only grown in the intervening years, this promise of added security from Facebook is a welcome one.

"By enrolling, we’ll help these accounts (1) adopt stronger account security protections, like two-factor authentication, and (2) monitor for potential hacking threats," explains the launch page.

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Lock it down.Credit: screenshot / facebook

The offering calls to mind Google's Advanced Protection. That program permits anyone who feels their account may be the target of sophisticated hackers to enable an additional layer of digital security protections. Facebook Protect, at least on the outside, seems like a slightly watered down version.

Regardless, it's definitely better than nothing — and late is better than never.

Facebook correctly cops to the fact that nothing, not even Protect, will 100 percent secure your account from a dedicated hacker. Instead, insists the company, Protect throws additional roadblocks in their way.

"While we may never be able to catch every bad actor," warns Facebook, "this program is one of several steps we’re taking to make it harder for account compromises to occur."

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Importantly, accounts have to enroll in this Facebook Protect — it's not automatic. To do so, eligible accounts (the requirements of which are determined by Facebook) fill out a form and then follow the requisite steps.

It should be noted that Facebook Protect, while an overdue addition to the social media security landscape, still fails in protecting election campaigns from one serious risk specific to Facebook: the company's own problematic policies.

But hey, you have to start somewhere.

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