New York (AFP)

Facebook is launching a new initiative this week to encourage Americans to vote in the next presidential elections, the latest effort by the social network which seeks to prove that it is now a responsible actor as the polls approach.

The group is starting a massive awareness campaign on Monday encouraging people to visit its virtual voting information centers where people can see how to register to vote, how to vote by mail or how to volunteer to lend a hand in offices. to vote.

It will be broadcast on the country's main television and radio channels, as well as on news websites.

And since Saturday, the group has presented similar information on its Facebook, Instagram and Messenger apps.

Mark Zuckerberg's group also plans to broadcast on the Facebook app on Tuesday an hour of special program called "Vote-A-Thon" and which will feature several stars and public figures.

The social network estimates that it has already helped 2.5 million people register on the electoral roll.

"We still have work to do to reach our goal of helping more than 4 million people register this year, but we are pleased with the progress we are making in helping people use their voice to vote," said highlighted the group in a statement.

Around 39 million people in total have so far visited Facebook and Instagram's voting information centers.

The social network seeks to show that it is no longer a means of massive disinformation as in the 2016 elections, including the presidential election in the United States and the referendum on Brexit in the United Kingdom, marked by influence campaigns disguised mainly orchestrated from Russia.

For example, he announced in early September that no new political advertising could be broadcast on his platform in the week preceding the US presidential election of November 3.

Like the other internet giants, Facebook has also been multiplying for months the announcements on foiled cyberattacks and dismantled propaganda operations.

© 2020 AFP