Meta allows Trump back with presidential elections looming

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen English
13 Jul 2024 08:26

The tech giant said that "American people should be able to hear from the nominees for president on the same basis."

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President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a USA Thank You Tour 2016 at the Giant Center on December 15, 2016 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. (AFP)

Meta has removed previous restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Donald Trump as the 2024 election nears, the company announced on Friday.

The decision comes a few months ahead of the heated US 2024 elections.

Trump had been allowed to return to these social networks in 2023, but with certain "guardrails" in place. These restrictions were initially imposed due to his online conduct during the January 6 Capitol Hill riots, which led to his ban. Now, Meta has lifted these guardrails, fully restoring his accounts.

"In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for president on the same basis," the tech giant said, citing the Republican National Convention RNC. The convention, scheduled for next week, will formalize Trump as the party’s candidate.

"All US presidential candidates remain subject to the same community standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence," it added, saying that the previous measures took place in response to "extreme and extraordinary circumstances."

Biden condemns Meta's decision

President Joe Biden's campaign condemned the decision on Friday, stating it is a "greedy, reckless decision" that is considered "a direct attack on our safety and our democracy."

"Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff," said campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak. "It is holding a megaphone for a bonafide racist who will shout his hate and white supremacy from the rooftops and try to take it mainstream."

Following the Capitol riot, several major social media companies banned Trump due to his online activity. These companies also included Twitter (now X), Snapchat, and YouTube. The bans were implemented to prevent further incitement of violence and the spread of misinformation.

The former president was allowed back on X after Elon Musk bought the platform, but is still banned from Snapchat.