Snapchat permanently bans Donald Trump over spreading misinformation and inciting violence

After Facebook and Twitter, im-centric social media network Snapchat on January 13 also permanently banned US President Donald Trump from platform. Following horrifying Capitol siege, Trump’s access to social media has been largely cut off. Operators fear that President could use his Snapchat account to foment unrest in run-up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20. refore, social media network joined ors and decided to "permanently terminate" his account. 

According to CNN, a Snapchat spokesperson ted that last week platform had anunced an “indefinite suspension” of President Trump’s account. After assessing what long term action is in best interest of Snapchat community, spokesperson added company decided to ban Trump permanently from its platform. He said that in interest of public safety and based on Trump’s attempts to spread misinformation, hate speech and incite violence, Snapchat decided to “permanently terminate” his account. 

READ: Trump Disavows Violence After 2nd Impeachment

In wake of US Capitol riots and ahead of Biden’s inauguration, social media platforms are scrambling to eliminate or limit reach of inflammatory content and accounts, with a special focus on what to do about accounts linked to US President. Last week, Facebook said that it would ban Trump’s account from posting for at least remainder of his term in office. Micro-blogging website Twitter, which was Trump’s preferred online megaphone, permanently suspended his account. 

Moreover, YouTube on Tuesday said that it is suspending President’s channel for at least one week and potentially longer after his channel earned a strike under platform’s policies. Apart from Trump’s social media accounts, right-wing inclined platform Parler, which has proved particularly popular among supporters of US President, has been banned from Google, Apple and Amazon for “inciting ongoing violence” in nation. With all three major web hosting services banning app, Parler is set to go offline if it fails to find an alternative. 

READ: Trump Administration Slashes Imperiled Spotted Owls' Habitat

Trump calls clampdown as 'catastrophic mistake’ 

On January 6, Trump supporters stormed US Capitol in name of protest against "rigged election" claim made by Donald Trump. Violence and destruction ensued soon after, with mob vandalising and defiling chambers of Capitol building. Trump had given a speech from White House, urging protesters to march on Capitol after making claims of "voting fraud". 

Moreover, calling his speech 'totally appropriate', Trump also called clampdown on his social media accounts as a 'catastrophic mistake'. He also lambasted Democrat-controlled Congress for moving articles of impeachment, saying it was causing 'tremendous anger' and that move was  'absolutely ridiculous’. However, on Thursday Trump became first US President to be impeached twice by House with 232-197 votes in favour of impeachment. 

READ: Trump Condemns Violent Capitol Riot And Urges Calm

READ: Trump Impeached & Biden To Be Inaugurated, Google Joins Cautious Big-tech Companies' List