Facebook Blocks Hashtags: #SharpieGate & #StopTheSteal

Facebook has initiated measures to restrict certain hashtags on its platform that were being utilized to disseminate inaccurate information concerning the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

Currently, searches for the hashtag #sharpiegate are being prevented on the social media network. The hashtag #stopthesteal, another associated with election-related conspiracy theories, is also blocked on Facebook, accompanied by a notification indicating that some of its associated content violates the platform’s established community guidelines. This #stopthesteal hashtag had been actively promoted by Donald Trump Jr. and other individuals connected to the Trump campaign on Twitter.

When users now attempt to access search results for these blocked hashtags, Facebook directs them to a page explaining that posts containing the hashtag are “temporarily hidden.” This message further clarifies that “some content within those posts conflicts with our Community Standards,” and provides a link for users to review those guidelines.

Although TechCrunch identified that specific hashtags spreading election misinformation had been restricted, numerous others remained active, leading users to content that promoted unsubstantiated claims questioning the election results or outright labeling them as fraudulent.

For instance, hashtags such as #RiggedElection, #Rigged, #ElectionFraud, #ElectionMeddling, and similar terms continued to function, even directing users to content linked to QAnon conspiracy theories – despite Facebook’s previous ban on QAnon content and many related hashtags.

Considering Facebook’s past allowance of QAnon content for an extended period, the company’s swift action to block election misinformation hashtags within days is noteworthy. This demonstrates Facebook’s capability to address the rapid spread of misinformation, although it has not historically prioritized doing so.

Regarding the hashtags themselves, the claims associated with SharpieGate had already been comprehensively disproven by both news organizations and election authorities. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors issued a statement on Twitter refuting the assertions that using Sharpies would invalidate ballots. The ballots are designed with offset columns, making Sharpie use permissible and preventing any bleed-through or related problems.

The initial claim originated on Tuesday in a Facebook video where a woman alleged that poll workers were encouraging voters to use Sharpies to invalidate their ballots. This video is now marked on Facebook with a “false information” label, requiring users to click through to view it.

In addition to the hashtag restrictions, Facebook also removed a group titled “Stop the Steal 2020,” as initially reported by Ryan Mac of BuzzFeed. This group was connected to real-world demonstrations by supporters of President Trump, which have taken place across the country as vote counting continues in key states. Some protesters, influenced by misinformation, have even gathered at voting locations where counting is still in progress.

“Consistent with the extraordinary steps we are taking during this period of increased tension, we have removed the Group ‘Stop the Steal,’ which was organizing real-world events,” stated Facebook spokesperson Andy Stone to TechCrunch. “The group was centered around undermining the legitimacy of the election process, and we observed concerning calls for violence from some of its members.”

As he had previously indicated, President Trump is strongly emphasizing a false narrative that questionable activity at polling places and late-arriving ballots are part of a Democratic effort to prevent his reelection. During a White House address early Wednesday morning, Trump prematurely declared victory, raising unfounded concerns about mail-in ballots, which were anticipated to favor Democrats, as potentially improper and impacting his initial lead. “We were getting ready to win this election,” Trump stated. “Frankly, we did win this election.”

On Twitter, many of President Trump’s recent posts promoting unsupported election conspiracies have been made less visible and are accompanied by misinformation warnings. These posts also have restrictions on likes, retweets, and comments to limit their viral spread. On Facebook, the president’s posts alleging voting site fraud are not directly labeled as misinformation. Instead, Facebook accompanies them with informational labels reminding users that vote-by-mail ballots are reliable or noting that election officials adhere to “strict rules” when processing and counting ballots. The company also deactivated the “recent” page for Instagram hashtags leading up to the election, a preventative measure intended to curb the dissemination of viral election misinformation.

Facebook has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding its new hashtag bans, but they are currently observable within the Facebook application on both desktop and mobile devices as of the time of this report.