Trump attacks social media companies after Facebook bans

AP  |  Sterling (US) 

criticised companies after banned a number of extremist figures, 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 platforms."

He has previously asserted that companies exhibit bias against conservatives, something the companies have rejected as untrue.

The president's comments came after this week banned Louis Farrakhan, and other extremists, saying they violated its ban on "dangerous individuals."

The company also removed right-wing personalities Paul Nehlen, Milo Yiannopoulos, and Laura Loomer, along with Jones' site, Infowars, which often posts conspiracy theories.

The latest bans apply both to Facebook's main service and to and extend to fan pages and other related accounts.

Facebook's move signalled renewed effort by the to remove people and groups promoting objectionable material such as hate, racism and anti-Semitism.

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, regardless of political ideology.

On Twitter, Trump cited a number of individuals he said were being unfairly treated by social media companies, including Watson and

He insisted it was "getting worse and worse for Conservatives on social media!" Woods, one of Hollywood's most outspoken conservatives, has had his account locked.

said Woods will need to delete a tweet that violated rules before he can be reinstated.

Trump tweeted: "How can it be possible that (and many others), a strong but responsible Conservative Voice, is banned from Twitter? Social Media & Fake Media, together with their partner, the Democrat Party, have no idea the problems they are causing for themselves. VERY UNFAIR!"

Rosborough said Twitter enforces its rules "impartially for all users, regardless of their background or political affiliation."

Trump, who uses Twitter extensively to push his message, recently met with Twitter at the after attacking the company and complaining that it was not treating him well because he was a Republican. He later described it as a "great meeting."

The had more than social media on his mind Saturday.

Trump also tweeted that he was holding out hopes for a deal with on its nuclear program, as well as improved relations with Russia, now that he feels the investigation is behind him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Sun, May 05 2019. 04:35 IST