Facebook reversed the crackdown on searches for Kyle Rittenhouse after he was found innocent.
In self-defense, Kyle Rittenhouse, a teenager, shot three people in Kenosha (Wis.) during a nationwide riot in 2020. Meta’s subsidiary platforms Facebook and Instagram ruthlessly impeded conservatives from sharing stories in favor of Rittenhouse or even being able to search his name before the trial was resolved. Meta platforms seem to be changing their tune now that Rittenhouse is acquitted of all charges including murder. BBC was allegedly told by an unnamed spokesperson that they would no longer remove any content that had Rittenhouse’s praise or support. BBC’s article reporting Nov. 30 on the change in policy clarified that “His acquittal made Facebook’s policy difficult to maintain.” BBC also suggested,“The verdict also brought into question whether Facebook had over-corrected in moderating Rittenhouse-related content in such a way.”
BBC Article tweets from the unverified account of the former director of Facebook’s Dangerous Individuals and Organizations division Brian Fishman. This account is reportedly spoke on behalf of FacebookIn August 2020 Rittenhouse declared why Rittenhouse content was prohibited:
“Yesterday we designated the shooting as a mass murder and removed the shooter’s accounts from Facebook & Instagram. Per standard practice in these situations, we are also removing praise and support of the shooter and have also blocked searches of his name on our platforms.”
Facebook initially would not allow users to search “Kyle Rittenhouse” in the search bar and cracked down on conservative journalists for posting public support for Rittenhouse.
The Kenosha jury has acquitted Rittenhouse. New York Post Editorial Board socked Facebook leadership with a piece headlined “Facebook declared Kyle Rittenhouse guilty, silencing his defense in the court of public opinion.” The Post noted that “Facebook’s staff just couldn’t resist choosing a side.” The Post then cited alleged Facebook internal communications: “‘Employees are drunk on the absolute power of being in control of civics in America, without ever having to visit a voting booth (if voting is even an option).’”
Famously, Facebook suspended radio hostFormer presidential candidate Austin Peterson for posting that Rittenhouse was “a hero,” and the platform revoked his livestream privileges for 90 days and locked him out of his professional page for 30 days.
Facebook has also removed a Newsmax staffer and ex-staffer from President Donald Trump’s office. Jenna EllisFor 24 hours following she sharedA tweet from Steven Crowder that sympathized with Rittenhouse’s crying during trial when he recounted violent altercations.
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