Facebook to verify ads with postcards after Russian meddling

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MENLO PARK: Facebook will soon rely on centuries-old technology to try to prevent foreign meddling in US elections: the post office.

Baffled in 2016 by Russian agents who bought ads to sway the US presidential campaign, Facebook's global politics and government outreach director, Katie Harbath, told the National Association of Secretaries of State on Saturday that the company would send postcards to potential buyers of political ads to confirm they reside in the US.

The recipient would then have to enter a code on Facebook to continue buying the ad.

The method will first apply to ads that name candidates ahead of the midterm elections in November, says Facebook spokesman Andy Stone.

The plan was unveiled a day after special counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russians with interfering in the presidential election.