Facebook announced on May 8 that it would take it upon itself to monitor the Republic of Ireland’s May 25 referendum on abortion by banning all ads on the topic from foreign groups. The announcement read, in part: “We are an open platform for people to express ideas and views on both sides of a debate. Our goal is simple: to help ensure a free, fair and transparent vote on this important issue.”
The announcement featured plenty of incongruities. Facebook claimed that helping “protect the integrity of elections and referendums...