Facebook Restores Trump's Access, Now on Par with Biden on Platform

New Delhi: Facebook has removed the restrictions previously imposed on Donald Trump following the January 6 Capitol attack, placing him on an equal footing with President Joe Biden on the platform just before the Republican National Convention.

Initially banned in 2021 after the Capitol riot, Trump’s access was partially restored last year but came with “guardrails” including “heightened suspension penalties” for posts violating Facebook’s standards. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, has now lifted these additional restrictions, citing that Trump had not breached the guardrails and that the extreme circumstances of the Capitol attack have since changed.

Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, stated in a company announcement, “In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis.” He emphasized that both Trump and Biden are still bound by the same “community standards” as all other users on Facebook and Instagram.

Facebook, the world's largest social media platform, had previously been a vital tool for Trump’s campaigns, aiding in publicity and fundraising. Trump has since been active on his own Truth Social platform, which he launched after his suspension from Facebook and other social networks.

Capitol Riot

The Capitol riot, which took place on January 6, 2021, was a significant and unprecedented event in American history. On that day, a mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The riot resulted in extensive damage to the Capitol building, numerous injuries, and several deaths. It also led to the evacuation and lockdown of the Capitol as Congress was in the process of certifying the electoral votes for President Joe Biden.

In the aftermath of the riot, Trump faced widespread condemnation for his role in inciting the violence. His rhetoric leading up to the event, including false claims of election fraud and inflammatory statements, was seen as fueling the unrest. As a result, Trump was banned from major social media platforms, including Facebook, which cited his posts as a violation of their policies and a threat to public safety.