Facebookis urging its employees not to wear or carry items in public that bear the company’s name, afterPresident Donald Trumpwasbanned from its platformsindefinitely following last week’sriots at the U.S. Capitol.
“In light of recent events, and to err on the side of caution, global security is encouraging everyone to avoid wearing or carrying Facebook-branded items at this time,” read the memo, according to Business Insider.
“The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office toundermine the peaceful and lawful transitionof power to his elected successor,Joe Biden,” wrote Zuckerberg, 36.
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Facebook logo.Richard Drew/AP/Shutterstock
“Hisdecision to use his platform tocondone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world,” he continued.
One of the posts that was removed and violated Facebook’s policy was Trump’svideo addressing the riotsand those who had broken into the U.S. Capitol building, wreaking havoc and violence.
In the recorded speech, Trump told his supporters, “We love you, you’re very special,” and doubled down on the baseless claims of election fraud before telling rioters occupying the Capitol building, “We have to have peace, so go home.”
Zuckerberg said the company had “removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect — and likely their intent — wouldbe to provoke further violence.”
President Donald Trump.Erin Schaff - Pool/Getty
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“Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules,at times removing content orlabeling his posts when they violate our policies,” he continued. “We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech. But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government.”
Zuckerberg concluded his statement, “We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete.”
Facebook hadpreviously locked the president’s account and banned him for only 24 hoursbecause it had “assessed two policy violations against President Trump’s Page.” The lock came amid a similar ban from Twitter.
source: people.com
