Sandberg to Discuss Facebook Ads With Congressional Black Caucus

Facebook Inc. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg is meeting with the Congressional Black Caucus this week to discuss race-related ads on the social network, according to a schedule received by the members.

“I think her meeting face-to-face with African Americans will help,” delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a nonvoting House Democrat representing the District of Columbia, said in an interview.

Advertisements run by a Russian organization on Facebook ahead of the U.S. presidential election were meant to stir tension in the country, especially on divisive issues such as race, immigration and guns, congressional investigators have said.

“We can’t conclusively say these actions impacted the outcome of the election,” the Congressional Black Caucus said Tuesday in a statement. “But we can say that these ads caused harm and additional resentment to young people who unselfishly fight for justice and equality for African Americans and other marginalized communities.”

Facebook declined to comment.

— With assistance by Sarah Frier