Clegg defends Facebook over ‘abhorrent’ Trump posts

SIR NICK Clegg has defended Facebook’s decision not to take action against inflammatory posts by Donald Trump, arguing that “defending free expression is important”.

The former Deputy Prime Minister, and Sheffield Hallam MP, who is now the social network’s head of global affairs, said allowing controversial posts by politicians was vital in allowing people to hold them to account.

Facebook has been criticised for failing to take down posts by the US president which criticised anti-racism protesters in Minnesota, warning “when the looting starts the shooting starts” – a post which was hidden from view on rival platform Twitter for inciting violence.

Speaking as Facebook launched a Voting Information Centre ahead of the US elections this year, Sir Nick said Facebook’s system allows people to scrutinise what politicians like Mr Trump are saying, and hold them to account by voting in elections.

“I think the fundamental judgment Facebook took in that instance was that, in the end, the best way to hold politicians to account for what they say – the good, the bad and the ugly – is to make sure that people can hear what they say,” he said.

Sir Nick confirmed he was part of the decision-making process at Facebook on the issue. He said he personally found the posts “abhorrent” but added that those who did not agree with Mr Trump should instead campaign and vote against him in the election.

Sir Nick also defended Facebook’s stance to not fact-check political adverts, arguing that the platform should not be the “arbiter of political truth” and that “Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook do not have the legitimacy” to tell politicians what they can and cannot say. The Voting Information Centre has been designed to provide users with accurate information ahead of the US election.