Trump could also face restrictions for content that does not violate Facebook's rules but "contributes to the sort of risk that materialized on January 6th, such as content that delegitimizes an upcoming election or is related to QAnon," Clegg said.
In those cases, Facebook could limit how widely Trump's posts are viewed or temporarily restrict access to Facebook's advertising tools.
Opponents of Trump criticized the decision, saying it gives Trump more avenues to spread lies and disinformation. Trump, who frequently spreads misinformation online, has continued to falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen.
"Trump incited an insurrection," tweeted U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. "And tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power. He’s shown no remorse. No contrition. Giving him back access to a social media platform to spread his lies and demagoguery is dangerous."
A Jan. 6 Committee report found that Trump’s supporters used Facebook to track his claims of a stolen election and that Facebook’s “delayed response" to far-right extremism and Trump's incitement "helped to facilitate the attack on January 6th.”
“Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to reinstate Trump’s accounts is a prime example of putting profits above people's safety," NAACP President Derrick Johnson, said in a statement. "It’s quite astonishing that one can spew hatred, fuel conspiracies, and incite a violent insurrection at our nation's Capitol building, and Mark Zuckerberg still believes that is not enough to remove someone from his platforms."
Send an email
