There should be absolute transparency on campaign and political endorsements when financial compensation has been received by an individual.
It should be crystal clear when a person sponsors or endorses a politician if they got paid to do so. There should be some type of identifier when someone takes a position that has been handed to them by a PAC like #politicalad
Influencers should have to label when something is an #ad, if they received money to endorse or articulate a political claim, or opposing political view.
Ideally this money shouldn’t make its way through from the White House and PAC groups to the public, but it does.
Regardless it should be crystal clear when someone like @harryjsisson receives PAC money to support a candidate or political position.
I should be able to see an aggregated list of how PAC money flows to celebrities and influencers, which influencers, and a list of all their content they’ve posted that has been positioned to them by a PAC group or lobbying firm.
Each month there should be a data dump by PACs showcasing which influencers and posts were made from paid campaigns. Any failures to disclose payment should receive maximum penalty to the PAC and influencer for some type of multiplier.
As an example, if I was getting paid by a PAC group to post something like this, I would have to say
#politicalad or #paidforby___________ on any message.
PAC groups would have to disclose their full roster, social accounts, and 3rd party paid media campaign budgets. I.e they would need to maintain a financial summary report of all outgoing payments and to which individuals.
Here’s something more structured
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Proposed Policy for Transparency in Political Endorsements and Campaign Financing
Policy Overview: To ensure transparency in political endorsements, this policy mandates that any individual, influencer, or entity that receives financial compensation for endorsing, promoting, or opposing a political candidate, party, or policy must disclose this information clearly and consistently. This policy aims to inform the public of the financial interests involved in political endorsements and hold both endorsers and funding organizations accountable for transparent practices.
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Mandatory Disclosure for Sponsored Endorsements
• Any individual or influencer who receives direct or indirect financial compensation from a political action committee (PAC), lobbying firm, political campaign, or affiliated group must include an explicit identifier such as #politicalad or #paidforby[NameOfEntity] on all endorsements, posts, or public statements made on any platform.
• The identifier should be easily visible and positioned prominently in the content, ensuring audiences are aware of the sponsorship. -
Aggregated Disclosure Database
• PACs, political campaigns, and lobbying firms must maintain a publicly accessible database that details:
• The names of all individuals, influencers, or entities paid to promote or oppose political content.
• The total amounts paid and the specific content or campaigns linked to these payments.
• Links to all paid content or posts across social media and other platforms.
• The database must be updated monthly to provide a comprehensive view of financial flows and endorsements. -
Full Transparency on PAC Disbursements
• PACs must maintain and disclose:
• A comprehensive financial summary report of all outgoing payments related to paid endorsements and media campaigns.
• The list of individuals or organizations receiving payment, with details of the services rendered and corresponding social media or public platforms involved.
• This report should also include the PAC’s paid media campaign budgets, including third-party partnerships. -
Penalties for Non-Compliance
• Failure to disclose a paid political endorsement or failure by a PAC to report financial disbursements will result in:
• A significant financial penalty, calculated based on a multiplier of the undisclosed payment amount (e.g., a 3x multiplier).
• Public censure for both the individual influencer and the PAC or funding organization.
• Repeat offenses may lead to stricter penalties, including temporary suspension of social media accounts and legal actions against responsible PACs or entities. -
Identifier Regulations
• The identifiers #politicalad or #paidforby[NameOfEntity] must be consistent in format and appear at the beginning of the post or statement to ensure immediate visibility.
• For visual or video content, the identifier must be displayed on-screen and verbally stated when applicable. -
Third-Party Campaigns
• Any third-party firm or agency conducting paid campaigns on behalf of a PAC must adhere to the same disclosure rules and reporting requirements outlined in this policy.
• Third-party partners must be listed in the PAC’s financial report, along with their activities and the individuals or influencers engaged in paid endorsements.