Congresswoman Robin Kelly Applauds Facebook’s Efforts to Improve Diversity and Update Ethnic Affinity Marketing

U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL), released the following statement today upon Facebook Inc.’s announcement that they will update their “ethnic affinity” marketing feature to prohibit discriminatory use of the feature.   

“I applaud Facebook’s efforts to ensure that countless consumers will not be subject to unfair bias and discrimination by advertisers using the ethnic affinity marketing tool.  Facebook’s decision to end this type of marketing in housing, employment, and credit advertisement is the right decision, and brings comfort to many consumers and policymakers devoted to the issue of equity. Technological innovation must remain our great equalizer, not evolve into a means of division.”

Facebook announced Friday that they would disable their ethnic affinity marketing tool for ads offering housing, employment, and credit.  This policy change was done in response to a letter led by Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly – Co-Chair of the Congressional Diversifying Tech Caucus – and after similar concerns were raised by members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and various Civil Rights organizations.