Facebook blocks Donald Trump from posting

Facebook has followed Twitter in locking Donald Trump’s page after the president’s followers stormed the US Capitol building.

“We’ve assessed two policy violations against President Trump’s Page which will result in a 24-hour feature block, meaning he will lose the ability to post on the platform during that time,” Facebook said in a statement posted on Twitter.

The platform earlier removed a video in which Mr Trump addressed his supporters who had clashed with police in Washington DC forcing a lockdown at the US Capitol building.

We've assessed two policy violations against President Trump's Page which will result in a 24-hour feature block, meaning he will lose the ability to post on the platform during that time.

— Facebook Newsroom (@fbnewsroom) January 7, 2021

Facebook’s vice president of integrity Guy Rosen, tweeted: “This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump’s video.”

“We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence.”

In chaotic scenes, supporters of Mr Trump breached barricades and staged an occupation of the building in Washington DC to interrupt politicians’ formal approval of Joe Biden’s presidential election win.

Twitter subsequently locked Mr Trump’s account for the first time and demanded he remove tweets excusing violence as it threatened him with “permanent suspension” from the platform.