Meta announces Former US President Donald Trump will not face “heightened suspension penalties” on Facebook and Instagram ahead of party conventions
Former US President Donald Trump will not be subjected to “the heightened suspension penalties” on Facebook and Instagram ahead of the party conventions taking place shortly, Meta has announced. The company stated that people should be able to hear what politicians are saying so they can make informed choices.
The “nominee of the Republican Party” was previously subjected to action in 2021, shortly after the January 6 unrest in Washington, DC. At that time, Meta suspended Trump’s accounts for two years, citing that his actions, including praising the Capitol rioters, posed a potential risk for inciting further violence.
In January 2023, Meta announced it would reinstate Trump on its platform, and he regained access to his accounts the following month. However, Trump remained subject to penalties and restrictions that could result in long suspensions of his social media accounts.
In an update by Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, it was stated that they are making a change to the updated protocol announced in January 2023. They will review accounts subject to this protocol on a periodic basis to determine whether heightened suspension penalties for Community Standards violations remain appropriate.
With the party conventions approaching, including the Republican convention next week, Meta believes 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. This decision was made considering that these penalties were a response to extreme circumstances and have not had to be deployed.
The announcement comes as the political landscape heats up with the upcoming party conventions, where candidates for President of the United States will soon be formally nominated. The move by Meta is seen as a step towards ensuring political expression while balancing the need to avoid serious risks to other human rights.