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Instagram Lifts Suspension Against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Account
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent anti-vaccine activist and nephew of late president John F. Kennedy, had his account restored on Instagram on Sunday. The platform initially suspended Kennedy’s account in 2021 for spreading misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines, and later removed the account of his nonprofit organization, Children’s Health Defense. However, as Kennedy is now running for president as a Democratic challenger to President Biden, his account was reinstated. While his personal account has been restored, Facebook and Instagram are still maintaining their suspensions against his organization.
Kennedy’s Repeatedly Wrong Claims
Kennedy’s accounts, which gained notoriety during the covid-19 pandemic, spread false and misleading claims about the virus and vaccines. Instagram decided to suspend Kennedy’s account for repeatedly sharing debunked claims regarding the pandemic and vaccines, which led to the removal of the politician’s account in 2021. Later in 2022, his nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, was taken down for spreading medical misinformation.
Instagram’s Political Leader Engagement Policy
Despite receiving backlash from critics for enabling political leaders to share misleading statements and ads, Meta, Instagram and Facebook’s parent company, has long argued that users should be able to engage with posts from political leaders.
Kennedy’s Instagram Issues Resolved
After Kennedy’s tweet regarding the inability of his campaign to set up an Instagram account, accusing the company of “silencing” him, and calling the move “undemocratic,” Instagram has resolved the issue and restored the account. Meanwhile, Twitter owner Elon Musk invited Kennedy to participate in an audio discussion with him on the platform. The former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, who expressed confidence in Musk’s vision for the platform before turning critical, separately offered praise for Kennedy’s presidential candidacy.
FAQ
Why was Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Instagram account suspended?
Kennedy’s account was suspended in 2021 and later his organization, Children’s Health Defense, was taken down for spreading medical misinformation regarding the coronavirus and vaccines.
Why did Instagram reinstate Kennedy’s account?
Kennedy is now running for president as a Democratic challenger to President Biden, which prompted Instagram to reinstate his account.
Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nonprofit account also reinstated?
No, Facebook and Instagram are still maintaining their suspensions against his organization, Children’s Health Defense.
What is Meta’s stance on users engaging with political leader posts?
Meta has long argued that users should be able to engage with posts from political leaders.
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