Cher leaving Google, Facebook in protest

Kennedy Center Honors/Scott Suchman

Cher announced Tuesday she will boycott Google and Facebook over what she says are insufficient responses to Russian-led disinformation campaigns on their platforms.

The tech companies have faced backlash from the left over what they say is an anemic response to Moscow’s efforts to spread fake news on their platforms, as well as weak privacy protections for user data.

{mosads}Russian operatives are known to have stoked discontent and spread false information on social media, deliberately sparking divisive debates on hot-button issues, as well as seeking to promote President Trump during the 2016 campaign.

Platforms including Facebook and Twitter drew ire after the 2016 election for not appropriately weeding out fake accounts and for inadequately protecting user information.

In perhaps the most infamous example, the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica reportedly used Facebook data it obtained from a researcher’s third-party app to help build data models for the Trump campaign.

Cher is a vocal supporter of liberal causes and critic of Trump, telling The Hill earlier this month some of her hopes for the Democratic 2020 ticket.

Tags Donald Trump Facebook Google Russia election interference

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