Meta Platforms Inc. announced on Friday, July 12, that it would lift some of the restrictions previously imposed on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. This decision comes ahead of the recent shooting incident involving Trump during his campaign.
Trump’s accounts were initially suspended without restrictions after he praised individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. While his accounts were restored in early 2023, his posts remained under additional scrutiny to prevent further violations that could lead to suspensions ranging from one month to two years.
In a recent blog post, Meta stated that Trump, who is currently running against U.S. President Joe Biden, would no longer be subject to this enhanced monitoring. “In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe the American people should be able to hear from presidential candidates on the same basis,” the company explained.
This move has reignited discussions among social media experts who have long criticized Meta and other platforms for inadequate moderation of political content, especially from political candidates.
Trump was also banned from Twitter, now rebranded as X, in 2021. His account was reinstated by billionaire Elon Musk shortly after Musk acquired the company in 2022, though Trump has only posted once since its restoration.
Related topics:
How to use OpenAI for commercial applications
3 OpenAI’s Competitors: Leading Players in the AI Landscape