Meta removes “increased suspension penalties” from Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts

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Donald Trump will not face additional penalties for violations on his Facebook and Instagram accounts, as parent company Meta apparently has the same rules for presidential candidates.

“In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe the American people should be able to hear from presidential candidates on the same basis,” the company’s Nick Clegg said in a statement today. “As such, former President Trump will no longer be subject to the enhanced suspension penalties as the nominee of the Republican Party. In reaching this conclusion, we also considered that these penalties were in response to extreme and extraordinary circumstances and did not need to be imposed.”

Trump’s accounts were suspended on Facebook and Instagram after he praised those involved in the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The Facebook Oversight Board upheld the decision but criticized the indefinite nature of the suspension. Meta then set a two-year deadline for the restrictions. The accounts were restored early last year, but Trump was still hit with increased penalties. For example, if he posted content that violated community standards, he could have faced suspensions “between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation.” That did not happen.

Trump may still face sanctions for posts that violate Facebook and Instagram’s community standards, but Clegg pointed out that “all U.S. presidential candidates will be subject to these rules, including policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence.”