Meta has consented to a $25 million settlement with former President Donald Trump, addressing his 2021 lawsuit that alleged wrongful censorship by Facebook and Instagram following the US Capitol incident. This resolution, reported by The Wall Street Journal, is perceived as a notable triumph for Trump.
Insiders familiar with the settlement details have disclosed that $22 million of the agreed sum is earmarked for the establishment of Trump’s future presidential library, while the remaining funds are allocated to cover legal expenses and compensate additional plaintiffs involved in the case.
Importantly, as part of the settlement terms, Meta has not conceded to any wrongdoing concerning the suspension of Trump’s accounts. A Meta spokesperson has confirmed the settlement to AFP.
Trump has been a vocal critic of social media platforms’ decisions to suspend his accounts post the January 6, 2021, events, particularly objecting to actions taken against comments perceived as endorsing the associated violence.
In recent times, Trump has engaged with tech industry leaders, including Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the proprietor of X (formerly Twitter). Notably, both attended Trump’s presidential inauguration last week in Washington.
Zuckerberg has publicly expressed support for Trump and has implemented policy adjustments within Meta to relax certain content restrictions across its platforms, which encompass Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.
Announcing a rollback of fact-checking operations, Zuckerberg, who reportedly dined with Trump at his Florida estate in November, stated this month that Meta would be “restoring free expression on our platforms.”
This settlement marks the latest instance of media corporations accommodating the evolving political landscape as they prepare for a potential second Trump presidency.
In a related development, ABC News agreed in December to a $15 million settlement to resolve a defamation lawsuit initiated by Trump, which stemmed from on-air remarks made by a prominent anchor.
Additionally, Meta has reported a substantial financial performance, with its net income soaring by 59 percent to $62.36 billion for the full year.
