Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump regarding his suspension from the platforms after the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In the lawsuit, which Trump initiated in 2022, he claimed that Meta violated his First Amendment rights and stifled conservative voices.
Meta defended its actions by citing concerns for public safety and the potential for inciting violence. After years of legal disputes, the tech giant chose to settle instead of prolonging the litigation. Although the settlement does not restore Trump’s accounts, it represents a notable moment in the ongoing discussion about free speech and content moderation on social media.
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Trump’s legal team described the agreement as a “victory for accountability,” while Meta asserted that its actions were consistent with its policies. This settlement comes on the heels of similar lawsuits Trump has filed against other major tech companies, including Twitter and YouTube, after they also removed him from their platforms following the Capitol attack.