Former US president Donald Trump will be allowed back on Facebook and Instagram following a two-year ban, parent-company Meta announced.
The ban will end "in the coming weeks" but will include "new guardrails in place to deter repeat offences," said Meta's president of global affairs Nick Clegg in a blog post.
"Like any other Facebook or Instagram user, Mr Trump is subject to our community standards," according to Clegg, adding that a review found that Trump's platforms no longer posed a serious risk to the public.
"In the event that Mr Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation."
"The public should be able to hear what their politicians are saying – the good, the bad and the ugly – so that they can make informed choices at the ballot box. But that does not mean there are no limits to what people can say on our platform," Clegg added.
Trump was suspended from Facebook and Instagram after rioters stormed the capital on 6 January 2021 after he claimed that the election had been stolen, encouraged violent protesters and denounced former vice-president Mike Pence while a mob threatened his safety.
US presidential election in 2024
Meta decided its platforms should be free for "open, public and democratic debate" and that people "should be able to hear from a former President of the United States, and a declared candidate for that office again."
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The move comes as Republicans have pushed for Trump to be let back on Facebook as he is set to run for president again next year. In January, a letter from Trump's team to Meta indicated that he wanted to return to the platform.
The Anti-Defamation league warned that Trump's return to the platform could lead to a surge in misinformation, online hate and harassment. After Trump was removed from Meta's platforms, he has posted unsubstantiated claims on Truth Social, his own grid.
