Donald Trump engages in a standoff with social networks
He was cut off from Twitter, Facebook and YouTube after reiterating his election fraud accusations in an inflammatory speech before hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6.
Seven months after being ousted from social media, former US President Donald Trump is attacking Facebook, Twitter, Google and their bosses. He was ousted after reiterating his accusations of fraud in the November 2020 election in an inflammatory speech before hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6.
"Today, alongside the America First Policy Institute," an organization that promotes policies defending "America First" [one of Donald Trump's campaign slogans], "I lay down, as as lead representative, a major class action lawsuit against tech giants including Facebook, Google and Twitter, as well as their bosses Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai and Jack Dorsey, ”the billionaire announced from his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey, Wednesday, July 7.
NEWSMAX: President Trump
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 7, 2021
FOX NEWS: Former President Trump https://t.co/8NdsnnMxc9
These three bosses "are implementing illegal, unconstitutional censorship," he said in a formal speech from behind a podium where his name was inscribed. "We are asking the Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida to order an immediate end to the illegal and shameful censorship by social media groups targeting Americans," he said.
Return announced with its own platform
The former president, who for several weeks has been announcing a return to social media with “his own platform,” added: “We demand (…) an end to the forced silence. "There is no better proof that Big Tech is out of control than the fact that they have banned the current President of the United States" from their platforms, he hammered. "If they can do it to me, they can do it to anyone. And that's exactly what they are doing, "he said, giving a voice to citizens who also claim to be victims of bans. "We are engaged in a fight that we are going to win," he promised. He said he was seeking exemplary compensation and damages.
At the same time, Republican House officials unveiled a program that would make it easier to sue tech companies in court and challenge unfair censorship.
🚨 #BREAKING: House Judiciary Republicans Release Agenda for Taking on Big Tech. pic.twitter.com/LbZBmmIl4Z
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) July 7, 2021
Suspended by Facebook for two years
In June, Facebook suspended Donald Trump for two years. The Republican had already been temporarily excluded on January 7 while still president for cheering his supporters on in the attack on Capitol Hill in Washington the day before, an unprecedented move. Social network Twitter also ousted him after the deadly assault on Capitol Hill during the victory certification ceremony for rival Joe Biden on January 6.
Before being banned, Donald Trump had nearly 89 million followers on Twitter, 35 million on Facebook and 24 million on Instagram. "Google and YouTube have deleted countless videos that dared to question the judgment of the World Health Organization" during the pandemic, he also said on Wednesday.
Hundreds of Donald Trump supporters launched an attack on the Capitol in Washington on Jan.6 after the then White House man reiterated his accusations of fraud in an inflammatory speech. Five people have died in the unrest.
