Trump Attacks Social Media Companies After Facebook Bans Extremist Figures
May 06, 2019 10:57(Image source from: Politico)
After Facebook banned a number of extremist figures in a bid to remove people and groups promoting objectionable material such as hate, racism, and anti-Semitism, President Donald Trump criticized social media companies declaring that he was “monitoring and watching, closely!!”
Trump, who tweeted and re-tweeted complaints Friday and Saturday, said he would "monitor the censorship of AMERICAN CITIZENS on social media platforms."
I am continuing to monitor the censorship of AMERICAN CITIZENS on social media platforms. This is the United States of America — and we have what’s known as FREEDOM OF SPEECH! We are monitoring and watching, closely!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2019
He has previously asserted that social media companies exhibit bias against right-wingers, something the companies have rejected as untruthful.
The president's comments came after Facebook this week banned Alex Jones, Louis Farrakhan, and other extremists, saying they violated its ban on "dangerous individuals."
The social media giant also removed right-wing personalities Milo Yiannopoulos, Paul Nehlen, Laura Loomer, and Paul Joseph Watson along with Jones' site, Infowars, which oftentimes posts conspiracy theories.
The company said it has "always banned" people or groups that proclaim a violent or hateful mission or are engaged in acts of hate or violence, irrespective of political ideology.
On Twitter, Trump cited a number of individuals he said were being unfairly treated by social media companies, including Watson and actor James Woods, one of the Hollywood’s most outspoken conservatives.
He insisted it was "getting worse and worse for Conservatives on social media!"
Trump, who uses Twitter extensively to convey his message, recently met with Twitter Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey at the White House after attacking the company and criticizing that it was not treating him well because he was a Republican. However, he later described it as a "great meeting."
By Sowmya Sangam