Former US President Donald Trump's YouTube channel restrictions have been lifted two years after they were imposed for inciting violence during the January 2021 Capitol Hill incident.
This is a big step for the former US president as he prepares to launch a presidential campaign in 2024. Trump now has access to his 146 million followers on three major internet platforms.
YouTube Lifts Restrictions on Trump's YouTube Channel
Reuters reports that YouTube announced the decision on Friday, March 17, citing "careful evaluation of the continued risk of real-world violence, while balancing the chance for voters to hear equally from major national candidates in the run-up to an election."
This follows after Meta restored Trump's Facebook and Instagram profiles earlier this year. New owner Elon Musk reinstated his Twitter account in November 2022 following a user-wide "amnesty" poll.
It has been revealed that the former president would have access to crucial tools for political fundraising and communication, allowing him to connect with his network of followers. Trump's campaign staff has yet to respond to this development.
Internet Reacts
Critics, however, have questioned Trump's return to social media, claiming that the statements he has recently placed on his new platform, Truth Social, show that he continues to endanger public safety.
On Twitter, users demanded that YouTube provide the standards used to evaluate Trump's channel. Some noted that the decision came at the same time as the former president issued a statement regarding releasing imprisoned Capitol Hill rioters.
A number of users also commented on how ironic YouTube's decision to remove a ban on a user who incited violence on the site, given the platform's firm stance on "harmful" content on other channels.
In addition, Trump is facing a $250 million civil fraud action launched by the state of New York, with the Manhattan District Attorney's office investigating criminal charges against him.
What happened on January 6, 2021?
Supporters of then-President Donald Trump met in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021, for a rally dubbed "Save America."
BBC reports that during a speech to a crowd outside the White House, Trump exhorted his followers to "fight like hell" and claimed that the election had been stolen from him. Note, that Trump also told the attendees to peacefully exercise their freedom to assemble.
After Trump's address, a large crowd of his supporters marched to the Capitol Building, where rioters broke into the building, vandalized and looted offices, and clashed with police officials.
What's next?
It remains to be seen how this will impact Trump's future political goals, but his return to social media will definitely be viewed as a significant step in the run-up to the presidential race in 2024.
YouTube's move to lift restrictions from Trump's channel comes as social media platforms face heightened scrutiny for their role in propagating harmful content, particularly in the aftermath of the Capitol Hill incident.
This has prompted calls for further social media regulation, with some suggesting that sites like YouTube should be held accountable for spreading misinformation and incitement of violence.
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