Spectator's satirical Joe Biden cover is 'restricted' by Facebook

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Jan 15:05
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The Spectator's satirical cover of Joe Biden has been 'restricted' by Facebook, according to the magazine's editor, after previous satires by Donald Trump and Boris Johnson were waved through.

The Spectator featured the headline Six More Years but showed Biden holding up only five fingers. (The Spectator)

Facebook appeared to prohibit a political magazine last night from running a satirical front page about Joe Biden as an advertisement.

The Spectator was told that its latest front cover, which depicts the US President holding up five fingers instead of six, would require special permission to appear on the platform.

The magazine’s editor, Fraser Nelson, suggested the problem stemmed from political bias in favor of Biden, as satirical front pages about the likes of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson were waved through.

Spectator’s satirical Joe Biden cover is 'restricted' by Facebook as the magazine's editor says previous satires of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson were waved throug https://t.co/Y99Mp2th2w pic.twitter.com/kYCqb281PF
— Zeno Calhoun (@zenoc_oshits) January 6, 2023

He said, "We’ve appealed to Facebook – saying we’re a political mag, all of our covers are political. Appeal rejected."

"It seems satire directed at Biden is rejected by Facebook (or its bots) but when we mocked Trump, Boris, Truss, etc, that was all fine and fair comment. Funny old world."

But Facebook appeared to relent, with a spokesperson saying last night that anyone who wants to run an ad that’s about politics or elections "has to be authorized. If The Spectator resubmit it from an authorised page admin, the ad will be approved."