2021 started in the strangest way possible, at least in the United States. In January 2021, after Joe Biden’s victory, the United States Capitol was attacked, and Donald Trump’s profiles on Twitter (now X), Facebook, and Instagram were subsequently blocked. Much has happened since then, and now we are once again in the midst of an election war. The presidential election will take place on November 5, and Meta has made the decision to lift the restrictions on Donald Trump’s profiles on Facebook and Instagram.

ContextOn January 6, 2021, Meta blocked Donald Trump’s Instagram and Facebook accounts for two years. As Meta stated at the time, the reason was “praising individuals who committed acts of violence at the Capitol.” “This was an extraordinary decision made under extraordinary circumstances,” Meta said.

This decision was not made by Mark Zuckerberg, but by the Council, which approved the suspension months after the blockade, despite stating that the sanction was “vague and lacking regulatory basis.” Regardless, that two-year blocking period ended in January 2023.

Unlock, but carefullyThat’s when Meta lifted its veto on Donald Trump’s accounts, allowing him to republish them, albeit with tighter oversight. As Meta reported in January 2023, Trump would face harsher sanctions for repeat offenders, including content removal and a profile suspension of between one month and two years, depending on the severity. Facebook will also take measures, such as limiting access and even removing the share button, if Trump tries to legitimize the election or posts QAnon-related conspiracy theories.

Elections are approachingAnd Meta chose to allow Republican candidate Donald Trump to use its social profiles under the same conditions as his rivals. So Zuckerberg’s company updated the statement, which was published in 2023, to state the following:

“With caucuses imminent, including next week’s Republican convention, the candidates for President of the United States will soon be formally announced. In considering our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe the American people should be able to hear the Presidential address. Accordingly, former President Trump will no longer be subject to enhanced removal sanctions as the Republican Party nominee.”

The company also concluded that “these sanctions were a response to extreme and extraordinary circumstances and did not need to be imposed” and that “all candidates for president of the United States remain subject to the same community standards as all users of Facebook and Instagram, including those related to incitement to hatred and violence”.

He also turned to Twitter. The little bird platform (as it was then) blocked Donald Trump on January 6, 2021, first for 12 hours, then indefinitely and completely. Trump’s blockade was so extensive that the businessman and politician was forced to create his own social network, Truth Social. One of Elon Musk’s first decisions as the new owner of Twitter was to: make a survey To ask if I should unblock him. The response was positive, so Trump returned to Twitter days later.

Image | Gage Skidmore

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