As Facebook & Instagram Lift Trump’s Ban, the Public Fastens Their Seatbelts (What Could Go Wrong?)

Meta says Trump no longer poses an immediate risk to public safety now.

It now says it will end the suspension of Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks. Its decision follows Twitter’s call last month to reverse its “permanent ban” on Trump.

Meta president of global affairs Nick Clegg wrote in a company blog post.

The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying — the good, the bad and the ugly — so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box.
But that does not mean there are no limits to what people can say on our platform.”

The new penalties include Meta limiting the reach of Trump’s posts in Facebook’s feed, restricting access to advertising tools, and removing the reshare button from offending posts.

But Trump has NOT changed.

He’s not recanted any of his election-denying views that rioters said inspired their violence on January 6
He continues to spread false claims that the 2020 election was “rigged“
He promotes conspiracy theories like QAnon
He’s lying MF

Last Thursday, Trump wrote Truth Social,

The Election was Rigged and Stollen, the Unselect Committee of political Hacks and Thugs refused to discuss it, and so it goes.”

If Trump continues to violate Facebook’s rules, the company could suspend him again for a period between one month and two years.

However Facebook justifies Trump’s presence on its platform, if we’ve learned anything, this is only the beginning.

Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts will be reactivated after a two-year ban. (via @kellymakena for @verge)https://t.co/KvOA44W7Rv
— Apple News (@AppleNews) January 26, 2023