FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2023

AAPC CONDEMNS LATEST BAN ON LEGITIMATE POLITICAL ADVERTISING

Xandr’s Policy Reversal Cited as Affront to Democratic Principles

McLean, VA – The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) condemns Xandr’s recent decision to reverse its policy on allowing candidate and issue ads on its platform, raising concerns about the implications on the free exchange of ideas essential to our democratic process.

“Programmatic technology has revolutionized the advertising landscape, enabling campaigns and non-profits to connect with their target audiences more efficiently and effectively, especially young and diverse voters who may not access traditional forms of media,” said Larry Huynh, Democrat consultant and President of AAPC. “By imposing sweeping bans on legitimate advertising, Xandr is curtailing the free exchange of ideas that allow individuals to make informed decisions on critical issues.”

At the heart of programmatic technology lies innovation and efficiency, benefiting campaigns of all sizes and voters alike. These advancements have democratized advertising by providing smaller campaigns with opportunities to compete in the marketplace of ideas. "We urge Xandr to reconsider this policy and find ways to promote responsible political advertising while protecting democratic discourse." said Kyle Roberts, Republican consultant and Vice President of AAPC.

As an organization dedicated to political free speech and ethical advertising practices, AAPC supports the foundational principles enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and urges full access to social media networks, email service providers, texting platforms and digital news and content publishers for all official campaigns and political and non-profit organizations. We applaud platforms that support political advertising as an essential means for candidates and organizations to communicate with the public openly and transparently.

AAPC believes that suppression of political advertising reduces the ability for people to participate and learn about the democratic process – including the candidates, political organizations, and policy issues that matter to them. Suppressing advertising is restricting free speech and a campaign's ability to reach a broad community online.

AAPC stands ready to work with all media partners to develop strong policies to uncover and stop misinformation while protecting free speech for campaigns and issue advocacy efforts.

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About AAPC

Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has more than 1,600 members hailing from all corners of the globe. The Board of Directors is comprised of thirty-two members, evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. The AAPC Foundation supports efforts to protect free speech, defend democracy, and prepare the next generation of political consultants to thrive. For more information, see www.theaapc.org.