Facebook has reportedly banned its so-called “fact-checkers” from “debunking” President Donald Trump after he announced his 2024 presidential run on Tuesday.
According to a CNN report, Facebook sent a memo to the “fact-checking” department to remind them that, when Trump officially announces his 2024 campaign, he is off-limits.
The memo said: “Some of you have reached out seeking guidance regarding fact-checking political speech in anticipation of a potential candidacy announcement from former President Trump.
“Political speech is ineligible for fact-checking.
“This includes the words a politician says as well as photo, video, or other content that is clearly labeled as created by the politician or their campaign.
“If former President Trump makes a clear, public announcement that he is running for office, he would be considered a politician under our program policies.”
CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan said:
“Facebook sent a memo to its fact-checkers this afternoon telling them if Trump announces he’s running for president tonight they can no longer fact-check anything he says.
“It’s not just Trump who gets an exception to the Meta fact-checking rules, all politicians/candidates do.
“But there were enough questions about Trump that a manager on Meta’s ‘news integrity partnership’ team sent the memo reminding fact-checkers earlier today.
“Trump is banned from Facebook and Instagram at the moment — although he may be allowed back on as soon as January.
“However, the page Team Trump, run by a Trump-affiliated group is still live and has 2.3 million followers.”
It’s not just Trump who gets an exception to the Meta fact-checking rules, all politicians/candidates do.
But there were enough questions about Trump that a manager on Meta’s "news integrity partnership” team sent the memo reminding fact-checkers earlier today.
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) November 15, 2022
Trump is banned from Facebook and Instagram at the moment — although he may be allowed back on as soon as January.
However, the page Team Trump, run by a Trump-affiliated group is still live and has 2.3 million followers.
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) November 15, 2022
According to CNN:
Andy Stone, a Meta spokesperson, said the memo was “a reiteration of our long-standing policy should not be news to anyone.”
…Trump has not been allowed to post on his Facebook and Instagram accounts since the days following the January 6, 2021, [riot at] the US Capitol.
However, Meta plans on considering allowing Trump back on the platform as soon as January – two years since his initial ban.
