Meta has given Presidential nominee Donald Trump free reign of his Facebook and Instagram accounts, as the tech giant reset the candidate’s page restrictions in favor of an equal digital playing field ahead of the November election.
Following a two-year suspension of his accounts in 2021, spurred by his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection attempt, Trump’s accounts were reinstated on a provisional basis. Meta warned that even the smallest policy violation could result in a long-term ban. Trump was also previously banned from posting on X (formerly Twitter).
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“With the party conventions taking place shortly, including the Republican convention next week, the candidates for President of the United States will soon be formally nominated,” the company wrote in an update the 2023 reinstatement. “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. As a result, former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties.”
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Shortly after Meta’s announcement, the Biden administration issued a statement decrying the company’s decision as “greedy” and “reckless.”
In a quote for the Hill, Biden campaign national spokesperson Charles Lutvak said: “Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff. 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. Without question, it is a direct attack on our safety and our democracy.”
Meta added that the previous restrictions were due to “extreme and extraordinary circumstances” that warranted invoking heightened penalties for public figures during times of civil unrest. Now, policy violations on Trump accounts will only result in the typical short-term suspension, and the company pledged to hold both presidential candidates to the “same Community Standards as all Facebook and Instagram users,” including policies on hate speech and incitement to violence.