Trump, who was suspended from Meta platforms following the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, had his accounts reinstated in January 2023 with heightened penalties for repeat offenses.
Meta said this week, however, that his accounts will no longer be subject to these additional penalties, noting that they were in response to “extreme and extraordinary circumstances” and “have not had to be deployed.”
“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,” Meta said in an update Friday, just days before the Republican nominating convention is set to occur.
“All US Presidential candidates remain subject to the same Community Standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence,” the social company added.
It also adjusted its general protocol for restricting accounts of public figures during civil unrest.
Meta will now periodically review whether heightened suspension penalties remain appropriate in order to “ensure people can hear from political candidates on our platforms,” it said.
The Hill’s Julia Shapero has more here.
