Top Democrats Slam Meta For Allowing Trump Back On Facebook, Instagram

Ryan SaavedraJanuary 31, 2023

Top Democrats attacked Meta, the parent of Instagram and Facebook, for allowing former President Donald Trump to reappear on the platform, claiming it was promoting free speech.

Meta announced last Wednesday it would end Trump’s suspension from Facebook and Instagram, saying the penalty imposed after January 6 riot was “an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances,” – and they have pledged to enforce “certain guardrails” Trump’s future.

“Social media is rooted in the belief that open debate and the free flow of ideas are important values, especially at a time when they are under threat in many places around the world. As a general rule, we don’t want to get in the way of open, public and democratic debate on Meta’s platforms — especially in the context of elections in democratic societies like the United States,” In the announcement, the company stated.

Although the company didn’t say when Trump would be allowed on its platforms, it said that it was certain. “risk” He had posed a threat to public safety. Twitter, which also suspended Trump after the Capitol Riot, also recently reinstated Trump. But, Trump has chosen to communicate through Truth Social, his platform.

“We are bringing Mr. Trump back in the coming weeks with certain guardrails, applicable to any public figures suspended for certain violations during times of civil unrest,” A statement by Meta is read. “The penalties and potential restrictions we’ve put in place are a deterrent.”

The company said that Trump’s content was important to the public, even if it was not. “distasteful or factually wrong.”

Rep. Adam Schiff (D.CA), and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. (D.RI). Sent a letter to Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nicholas Clegg, criticizing the company’s decision to let Trump back on the platform.

“Based on Meta’s previous statements on standards for allowing Trump back on the platform, his account should not have been reinstated. Trump has continued to post harmful election content on Truth Social that would likely violate Facebook’s policies, and we have every reason to believe he will bring similar conspiratorial rhetoric back to Facebook, too,” The two of them wrote. “How Facebook could reinstate his account, given all the additional content on Truth Social that would likely have resulted in a brand-new suspension if it were on your platform, is inexplicable.”

“[W]e believe that part of Meta’s commitment to election integrity should be ensuring that those who maintain the unfounded, dangerous narrative of the 2020 election are not allowed or encouraged to spread the lie in any form,” They were also added. “It is not clear in this decision where Meta will draw the line ‘between content that is harmful and should be removed, and content that, however distasteful or inaccurate, is part of the rough and tumble of life in a free society” We are grateful for any additional information.’”