In a historic decision, Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook and Instagram’s parent company, agreed with a substantial of 25 million dollars with former president Donald Trump. This agreement resolves a federal legal action that Trump’s legal team filed in 2021. The prosecution accused the meta of violation of the rights of the first amendment of Trump after the company suspended its accounts following the riots of 6 January at the Capitol.
Context of the trial
The controversy broke out when Trump was withdrawn from Facebook and Instagram following the tumultuous events of January 6, 2021, which saw a crowd to storm the Capitol in order to disrupt the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election . In response to generalized violence and disinformation, Meta has decided to suspend the accounts of Trump, citing concerns about the incentive to violence. However, Trump and his legal team argued that this action constituted “inadmissible censorship”.
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Meta has now confirmed that on the regulation of $ 25 million, around $ 22 million will be allocated to the Trump presidential library, a gesture that adds a unique touch to this legal resolution. The announcement of this payment came while the lawyer for Mark Zuckerberg, K. Winn Allen, informed a judge in northern California on January 29 that the two parties had concluded a mutual agreement. The opposite teams should file under a request for rejection of the trial.
An unexpected turn in relations
This colony marks a turning point in the relationship between Zuckerberg and Trump, which has often been marked by mutual suspicions and hostility. In a previously published book, Trump expressed himself against Zuckerberg’s substantial financial contributions to local electoral processes during the pandemic, declaring that he was closely monitoring the technological magnate. Trump’s strong rhetoric even referred to the possibility of criminal repercussions for Zuckerberg’s actions during the 2020 electoral period.
Interestingly, there has been a notable change in Meta’s approach to Trump in recent months. Zuckerberg’s company has made efforts to repair fences, as indicated by recent decisions within Meta. Recently, the company dismantled its controversial program to verify the facts that had encountered the counterpours of Trump supporters. In addition, Mark Zuckerberg has also promoted the republican lobbyist Joel Kaplan to lead global business affairs, signaling a strategic pivot towards more favorable relations with conservative figures.
The relationship has even extended to personal relations, because Meta brought Dana White, a close ally of Trump, as a member of the board of directors of the company. This growing proximity between Trump and Meta can be considered as part of the wider Zuckerberg strategy to rehabilitate its image among the base of Trump.
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Legal arguments and implications
For a while, the lawyers representing Meta fought vigorously against the trial of Trump, calling it as foundation. They claimed that Meta, as a private entity, adheres to different rules of government organizations with regard to the first amendment, which mainly protects citizens from government censorship. Despite this legal position, Trump’s legal team said that Meta’s actions had been influenced by the pressure of political circles, suggesting that the company was acting on behalf of the government when it has suspended the accounts.
Meta’s legal team at the end of this assertion, arguing that Trump’s suspension was due to political violations linked to the incentive to violence rather than any external political influence. They stressed that the award of a private company actions to government pressure based solely on a handful of Congress remarks did not hold water.
This regulation is part of a series of legal challenges to which Trump has been faced in recent months. Last December, ABC News was satisfied with $ 15 million on legal action concerning the coverage of allegations made by E. Jean Carroll against Trump.
Thanks to these $ 25 million regulations with Meta, Trump receives not only a financial boon, but also obtained an important victory in his current campaign to challenge the censorship perceived by Big Tech.