META announced yesterday that it would be removing restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts belonging to former US Presidential candidate Donald Trump.
These restrictions had been imposed following the violent events at the US Capitol in 2021.
Trump, now a nominee of the Republican Party, as per Meta’s statement, would no longer face the heightened suspension penalties that had been previously applied.
Trump’s social media accounts had been suspended indefinitely immediately after the attack on the Capitol in January 2021, due to his perceived support for those involved in the violence.
Although his accounts were reinstated in February 2023, there was looming threat of penalties for any future violations.
However, Meta decided to lift this additional restriction yesterday.
In a blog post, Meta emphasized the importance of allowing political expression, asserting that the American public should have access to messages from presidential nominees under the same conditions.
It was also underscored that all US presidential candidates, including Trump, must abide by the Community Standards applicable to all Facebook and Instagram users, aimed at curbing hate speech and violence incitement.
Trump was banned from platforms like Twitter and YouTube, although these restrictions were lifted last year.
Presently, he primarily interacts with his audience through his independent social platform, Truth Social.
His Facebook page, boasting 34 million followers, features content originally shared on Truth Social, alongside event invitations and campaign videos.