BREAKING: Meta Allows Donald Trump to Return to Facebook After Two Year Suspension for Inciting Jan 6th Attack on Capitol

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, January 25, 2023
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro | anna@unbendablemedia.com

BREAKING: Meta Allows Donald Trump to Return to Facebook After Two Year Suspension for Inciting Jan 6th Attack on Capitol

UltraViolet Says Decision Will Turn Facebook Into Vehicle for Hate and Misogyny, Demands Meta must close VIP loophole and prevent bad actors from spreading hate, violence, and misogyny online

WASHINGTON, DC — Moments ago, Meta announced that the platform will allow Donald Trump to return to Facebook after suspending Trump for inciting an insurrection to overturn results of the presidential election on January 6, 2021.

In reaction to Meta extending Trump’s suspension, Bridget Todd, director of communications at UltraViolet, a leading national gender justice organization and member of the #KeepTrumpOffFacebook campaign, issued the following statement:

“By allowing Trump back onto Meta platforms, Facebook and Instagram, Meta has given the former President a renewed platform to radicalize his followers and spread gendered and racialized disinformation encouraging violence. Facebook has chosen Donald Trump and the traffic he brings to the platform over the lives and wellbeing of its users and the American people. Shame on them.

“It is deeply disappointing that Meta chose to ignore Trump near daily TruthSocial posts confirming the ongoing dangers he poses to our country. It is especially disturbing that Meta ignored Trump’s recent harassment and campaign of lies against former Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman – attacks that have encouraged real world violence and harassment towards Freeman and her family.

“If Meta is unwilling to keep Trump off its platforms, then it must close the celebrity loophole that allows dangerous bad actors, like Trump, to spread violent rhetoric, hate, racism, and misogyny online without consequence. By enabling Trump, as well as the other 5.8 million VIP users, to stay on the platform and not have to follow the enforcement rules and guidelines for use, Meta is creating a privileged class of users that are exempt from the rules.

“While Meta has claimed that additional guardrails will be implemented around Trump’s return to Facebook and Instagram, we know that Meta cares more about its profits than a celebrity that boosts engagement, like Trump, following the rules.

“At the end of the day, it’s just plain dangerous. How can users trust Meta to create a safe environment when one of the top spreaders of disinformation won’t be held accountable?”

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