Meta announced Wednesday that it will reinstate former U.S. President Donald Trump’s accounts on his Facebook and Instagram social media profiles in the coming weeks.
The U.S. technology company has made this announcement after the Trump campaign formally requested Meta to unblock the account, after two years of prohibition following the assault of the Capitol on January 6, a measure they have pointed out that «were extreme and very unusual circumstances».
«The suspension was an extraordinary decision made under extraordinary circumstances. The normal state of affairs is that the public should be able to hear a former president of the United States, and a declared candidate for that office again, on our platforms,» reads a statement from Meta.
Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, has indicated, following the company’s announcement, that they have assessed the risk to public safety, noting that they are aware that «any decision» the company makes «will be heavily criticized.»
«As a general rule, you don’t want to get in the way of open debate on platforms, especially in the context of democratic elections. People should be able to hear what politicians say (good, bad and ugly) in order to make informed decisions at the ballot box,» Clegg explained.
According to the company’s statement, «social networking is based on 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 parts of the world.»
However, it stresses that «like any other user (…), Trump is subject to community standards.» «In light of his infractions, he now also faces enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, penalties that will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from civil disturbance-related suspensions under our updated protocol,» the missive continues.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
