Facebook on Wednesday said it will temporarily ban posting political advertisements in the US for an undefined period after the presidential election in the United States. 

The action was taken in a bid to counter fake news and misinformation campaigns.

"(Though) ads are an important way to express voice, we plan to temporarily stop running all social issues, electoral or political ads in the US after the polls close on November 3, to reduce opportunities for confusion or abuse," Facebook, in a blogpost said. 

Facebook is responding to widespread concern that social media could muddle election results. The company is also taking steps to stop candidates from prematurely declaring victory.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company planned no further changes to its election-related policies for the 2020 vote, citing a need "to ensure there are clear and consistent rules."

The ad halt is likely to rattle candidates, campaigns, advocacy groups, and political advertisers who have come to rely on Facebook ads as a powerful political tool.

Facebook said it has banned US marketing firm Rally Forge for coordinating the "inauthentic behavior", by way of bogus accounts to comment on news pieces rather than publishing their own article.