Facebook has banned a page run by an Australian Member of Parliament that had over 100,000 followers over its anti-lockdown content, with MP Craig Kelly questioning how a “foreign entity” should have the power to silence an elected representative.
Kelly, an Independent Australian politician and member for the Division of Hughes in the Australian House of Representatives, ran a page that became popular for challenging the Australian government’s lockdown policy.
“Firstly, they refused to tell me what they say is misinformation … I stand 100% by everything I’ve posted. It’s not my random thoughts, it’s backed up by scientific evidence,” said Kelly.
The MP said he was “absolutely outraged” about how a “foreign entity” has the power to silence an elected official and is now working on a bill that would hit Big Tech firms with a $100,000 per day fine for unfairly banning people for political speech.
Facebook responded to criticism over the ban by indicating they didn’t care about the fact that Kelly was an elected representative.
“We don’t allow anyone, including elected officials, to share misinformation about COVID-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm or [misinformation regarding] COVID-19 vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts,” said a statement.
Kelly previously quit the Liberal Party back in February after the government apparently told him to “shut up” about his COVID claims and refrain from posting anything further about the issue.
Forsided, 05.05.2021
Source: Summit News