Scott Olson
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is reinstating Donald Trump’s accounts on Facebook and Instagram after two years of suspensions spurring from the U.S. Capitol attacks on Jan. 6, 2021.
Digital World Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:DWAC), the blank-check company tied to Trump’s Truth Social media efforts, has fallen 3% postmarket.
Meta says it’s bringing Trump back with “new guardrails to deter repeat offenses.”
“As a general rule, we don’t want to get in the way of open, public and democratic debate on Meta’s platforms – especially in the context of elections in democratic societies like the United States,” said Nick Clegg, the company’s president of Global Affairs. “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.”
Trump will be subject to the company’s Community Standards lik any other user, Clegg said. “In light of his violations, he now also faces heightened penalties for repeat offenses – penalties which will apply to other public figures whose accounts are reinstated from suspensions related to civil unrest under our updated protocol.”
If Trump posts more content in violation, it will be removed and Trump will be suspended for one month to two years, depending on the violation.
Clegg also said the updated protocol addresses content that doesn’t violate its Community Standards but “that contributes to the sort of risk that materialized on January 6th, such as content that delegitimizes an upcoming election or is related to QAnon.” Such posts might see limited distribution, or even restricted access to advertising tools.