Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is receiving some support for allowing former President Donald Trump back on the platforms.
The American Civil Liberties Union is among those supporting the decision.
A tweet was posted to the organization’s Twitter account reacting to the announcement.
“This is the right call. Like it or not, President Trump is one of the country’s leading political figures and the public has a strong interest in hearing his speech,” the tweet stated.
This is the right call. Like it or not, President Trump is one of the country’s leading political figures and the public has a strong interest in hearing his speech. https://t.co/PbY8AevFDy
— ACLU (@ACLU) January 26, 2023
The ACLU received a flood of responses.
Comedian Loni Love replied, “Have you been hacked? You do know there is a difference between hate speech and free speech. And his speeches can influence a lot of people that could be misinformed.”
Have you been hacked? You do know there is a difference between hate speech and free speech. And his speeches can influence a lot of people that could be misinformed. https://t.co/MQyZxvYPNM
— Loni Love (@LoniLove) January 26, 2023
One tweet argued the ACLU “clearly cannot be trusted as an organization anymore. The last of the pillars of justice and accountability is failing.”
https://twitter.com/ZombaeKillz/status/1618660161031409670
Another user asked, “Did I travel back in time? What is this non partisan ACLU doing in my timeline?”
Did I travel back in time? What is this non partisan ACLU doing in my timeline? https://t.co/WnUqfSbcKZ pic.twitter.com/0k92IB91m4
— Peter Pilot🚁 (@guardpilot) January 26, 2023
Broadcaster Anthony Davis wrote, “ACLU just lost all credibility for not being able to distinguish the difference between free speech and hate speech. I personally blame Merrick Garland. Trump should have been indicted 2 years ago.”
https://twitter.com/theanthonydavis/status/1618638351120359425
Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, penned a blog post explaining the decision.
“Social media is rooted in the belief that open debate and the free flow of ideas are important values, especially at a time when they are under threat in many places around the world,” Clegg wrote.
He added, “As a general rule, we don’t want to get in the way of open, public and democratic debate on Meta’s platforms — especially in the context of elections in democratic societies like the United States.”
Clegg noted the company indefinitely suspended Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts following his remarks about the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
“The suspension was an extraordinary decision taken in extraordinary circumstances. The normal state of affairs is that the public should be able to hear from a former President of the United States, and a declared candidate for that office again, on our platforms,” Clegg explained.
While he noted Trump’s accounts are being reinstated, Clegg said they “are doing so with new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses.”
Clegg wrote, “In light of his violations, he now also faces heightened penalties for repeat offenses.”
