Facebook stops sending staff to help political campaigns Published duration 21 September 2018 Related Topics Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal

image copyright Reuters/Getty Images image caption Facebook employees advised Donald Trump's election campaign managers

Facebook will no longer send employees to work at the offices of political campaigns during elections, the company has announced.

The social network used to offer dedicated staff to political campaigns to help them develop their online advertising campaigns.

Donald Trump's digital director for the 2016 presidential election has said Facebook's assistance helped him win.

Facebook said rival Hillary Clinton was offered the same support, but declined.

The social network is the second largest online advertising broker, behind Google.

image copyright Facebook image caption Facebook says it will focus on its politics portal instead

Google and Twitter also offer specialised advice to political campaigns. They have not indicated that they will end the practice.

Facebook said it would instead offer free advertising advice to all political parties through its website.

However, campaigns will still be able to get support online and the company did not rule out holding meetings with politicians.