Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is considering the possibility of reinstating former US President Donald Trump and could make a decision on the matter later this month, several sources close to the trial told the Financial Times.
The ex-president has been suspended from the meta platforms for inciting violence shortly after a group of his supporters stormed the Capitol in January 2021.
Now, with his return to the public eye after announcing his candidacy for the White House in 2024, the companies that own social networks must decide on his suspension.
Meta had announced it would rule on the matter before January 7, 2023, however Sources close to the talks expect the decision to be made later this month.
Former UK Deputy Prime Minister and now Meta’s Head of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg will have ultimate responsibility for the decision. However, it’s not out of the question that Facebook’s creator, Mark Zuckerberg, could step in as CEO, president, and majority shareholder.
The company has set up a task force focused on the matter, according to people with knowledge of its business, including staff from the Public Order and Communications teams, as well as the Content Policy team led by Monika Bickert, and Security and Integrity teams led by Guy Rosen.
Neither Clegg nor Meta have commented on some of the conversations after tycoon Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, recently lifted a permanent ban on Trump, although the former president hasn’t released anything yet.
Restored other accounts on Twitter
Twitter owner Elon Musk announced the restoration of suspended accounts on the platform after a majority of voters voted in favor of the measure in a poll on the social network.
“People have spoken. Amnesty starts next week,” Musk tweeted, who started a query on the subject among users of this social network.
Former US President Donald Trump was banned from Twitter by his supporters after the attack on the Washington Capitol in January 2021. – Photo: Getty Images MONDAY WEEK72.4% of the approximately 3.16 million eligible voters answered “yes” to Musk’s question about whether Twitter should offer a “general amnesty for suspended accounts” as long as they don’t break the law or spam outrageously.”
Musk, who bought the social network for $44,000 million in late October, had already consulted with users to decide if the former president could return to the platform.
The former US President was banned from the social network by his supporters after the attack on the Washington Capitol in January 2021.
Trump’s account was subsequently restored A slim majority (51.8%) of the 15 million voters in this poll on Twitter favored the Republican billionaire’s return to the network.
This use of this consultation mechanism to define policies on the social network contradicts a commitment made by Musk shortly after acquiring the company, when he announced the forthcoming formation of a “Council of Moderation (of content) with very different viewpoints”.
“Until this council meets, no major decisions will be made about content or account recovery,” he tweeted.
But the world’s richest man backed away from that promise after accusing “activists” and “politicians” of wanting to “kill Twitter.” Drying up (their) advertising revenue, which accounts for 90% of the company’s sales.
Several major brands, including Volkswagen, General Motors and General Mills, have said they will end ad spend on the social network since Musk acquired it.
* With information from Europa Press and AFP