META REMOVES RESTRICTIONS ON TRUMP’S SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AHEAD OF 2024 ELECTION

Sat 13 July 2024:

Meta has announced it is lifting the restrictions on former US President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts as he campaigns to regain the White House. The social media company had suspended Trump’s accounts indefinitely after his comments supporting the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and spreading misinformation about the election results.

After reinstating his accounts in early 2023 with heightened monitoring, Meta has now decided to stop additional monitoring, stating, “We believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for president on the same basis.” This move comes as party conventions are set to begin, including the Republican convention next week.

Meta emphasized that all presidential candidates are still subject to community standards, including policies against hate speech and incitement to violence. Social media experts have criticized Meta and other platforms for inadequate moderation of political content.

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Previously, Facebook employees had protested against the company’s inaction on Trump’s inflammatory posts. Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds noted that the timing of Meta’s decision followed Trump’s statement on Truth Social about imprisoning Zuckerberg, suggesting a potential link.

The Biden campaign criticized Meta’s decision, with spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak comparing it to giving car keys to someone reckless. Trump’s Facebook account has 34 million followers, with his campaign frequently reposting content from Truth Social.

Trump has not commented on Facebook regarding Meta’s decision, but his recent posts on the platform have attacked President Biden. Trump, also banned from Twitter in 2021, had his account restored by Elon Musk in 2022. Musk, who has shown support for Trump, reportedly made a substantial donation to a political committee aiding Trump’s campaign.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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