Disclosing Who Pays for Online Political Ads

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/opinion/online-political-ads.html

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To the Editor:

Re “Tech Mobilizes Against a Push to Control Ads” (front page, Oct. 20), about a bill to compel disclosure of who paid for online ads:

First, this phenomenon is a consequence of the disastrous Supreme Court decision in Citizens United, which legalized unlimited expenditures for political ads.

Second, it is illegal for foreigners to contribute anything of value to any American political campaign, such as paying for ads that are intended to influence voters.

The online media companies should be held to account if they turn a blind eye to violations of the law that put money in their pockets, because that makes them complicit in the illegal activity. The law should make that explicit and be vigorously enforced.

JOSEPH B. MILSTEINBROOKLINE, MASS.

The writer is an attorney.

To the Editor:

I’d like to suggest that all advertisements, not just political ads, include information about who sponsored and paid for them.

That would get around the problem of defining exactly what constitutes a political advertisement and also protect potential victims of negative advertising in all kinds of posts, broadcasts and publications.

LYNN R. WILKINSON, AUSTIN, TEX.