The technology company indicates that the prohibition after the assault on the Capitol “were extreme and very unusual circumstances”
The Meta company announced this Wednesday that it will restore the accounts of former US President Donald Trump on his Facebook and Instagram social media profiles in the coming weeks.
The American technology company has made this announcement after the Trump campaign formally requested Meta to unlock the account, after a two-year ban following the assault on the Capitol on January 6, a measure that they have indicated that “they were extreme circumstances and very unusual.”
“The suspension was an extraordinary decision made in 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 Goal.
Meta’s president of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, has indicated, after the announcement that the company, that they have assessed the risk to public safety, noting that they are aware that “any decision” the company makes “will be strongly 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 are saying (good, bad and ugly) to make informed decisions at the polls,” Clegg explained.
According to the company statement, “social media is founded 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, he points out that “like any other user (…), Trump is subject to community standards.” “In light of his violations, he now also faces increased penalties for recidivism, penalties that will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from civil unrest-related suspensions under our updated protocol,” the letter continued.
