Meta has announced the removal of previous restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections.

Trump was initially allowed to return to these social networks in 2023 with specific "guardrails" in place, following a ban related to his online behaviour during the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Meta has now lifted these guardrails.

"In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for president on the same basis," Meta stated in a blog post.

The development comes ahead of the Republican National Convention next week in which the presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be formally named&nbsp;the party’s candidate.

Meta confirmed that Trump’s accounts will no longer be subject to heightened suspension penalties, which were established in response to "extreme and extraordinary circumstances" but have not been used.

"All US presidential candidates remain subject to the same community standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence," Meta emphasized in its blog post.

Since his reinstatement on Meta's platforms, Trump has primarily used his accounts to share campaign information, criticise Democratic candidate Joe Biden, and post memes. Trump himself has not engaged in hyper-aggressive posts on X (Twitter) as was the case before January 6, 2021.&nbsp;

Trump critics and online safety advocates have expressed concerns that his return could lead to increased misinformation and incitement of violence similar to the events that led to his initial ban.

The Biden campaign condemned Meta's move&nbsp;calling&nbsp;it a "greedy, reckless decision" and a "direct attack on our safety and our democracy."

"Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff," campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-blames-biden-and-his-people-for-hush-money-conviction-727495">Donald Trump blames 'Biden and his people' for hush money conviction</a>

"It is holding a megaphone for a bonafide racist who will shout his hate and white supremacy from the rooftops and try to take it mainstream."

In addition to Meta platforms, other major social media firms also banned Trump due to his online activity related to the January 6 attack, including Twitter (now X), Snapchat, and YouTube.

Also watch |&nbsp;US: Meta rolls back restrictions on Trump’s social media accounts

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Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, allowed Trump back on the platform last year.&nbsp;He returned to YouTube in March 2023 but remains banned from Snapchat.

Trump launched his own social network, TruthSocial, in early 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

Meta has announced the removal of previous restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections.

Meta has announced the removal of previous restrictions on the Facebook and Instagram accounts of former President Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections. Trump was initially allowed to return to these social networks in 2023 with specific "guardrails" in place, following a ban related to his online behaviour during the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Meta has now lifted these guardrails. "In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for president on the same basis," Meta stated in a blog post. The development comes ahead of the Republican National Convention next week in which the presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will be formally named the party’s candidate. Meta confirmed that Trump’s accounts will no longer be subject to heightened suspension penalties, which were established in response to "extreme and extraordinary circumstances" but have not been used. "All US presidential candidates remain subject to the same community standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence," Meta emphasized in its blog post. Since his reinstatement on Meta's platforms, Trump has primarily used his accounts to share campaign information, criticise Democratic candidate Joe Biden, and post memes. Trump himself has not engaged in hyper-aggressive posts on X (Twitter) as was the case before January 6, 2021. Trump critics and online safety advocates have expressed concerns that his return could lead to increased misinformation and incitement of violence similar to the events that led to his initial ban. The Biden campaign condemned Meta's move calling it a "greedy, reckless decision" and a "direct attack on our safety and our democracy." "Restoring his access is like handing your car keys to someone you know will drive your car into a crowd and off a cliff," campaign spokesperson Charles Kretchmer Lutvak was quoted as saying by The Guardian. Also read | Donald Trump blames 'Biden and his people' for hush money conviction "It is holding a megaphone for a bonafide racist who will shout his hate and white supremacy from the rooftops and try to take it mainstream." In addition to Meta platforms, other major social media firms also banned Trump due to his online activity related to the January 6 attack, including Twitter (now X), Snapchat, and YouTube. Also watch | US: Meta rolls back restrictions on Trump’s social media accounts × Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, allowed Trump back on the platform last year. He returned to YouTube in March 2023 but remains banned from Snapchat. Trump launched his own social network, TruthSocial, in early 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

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