In a surprising turn of events, Meta has reinstated several pro-life Facebook and Instagram accounts after months of suspension, following a stern letter from the legal team at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). This move comes just days after Mark Zuckerberg’s promise to promote “more speech and fewer mistakes” in Meta’s content moderation policies. The reinstated accounts belong to LifeNews.com, its founder Steven Ertelt, and pro-life advocate Abby Covington.
The reversal is a significant development, especially considering the circumstances surrounding the initial suspensions. Ertelt’s Facebook account was permanently disabled in May after he posted a video of an unborn baby grabbing a doctor’s finger during a C-section. The caption, which highlighted the humanity of the unborn child, was deemed a violation of Meta’s Community Standards on “child sexual exploitation.” This decision was widely criticized, as it appeared to conflate a pro-life message with one of the most heinous crimes imaginable.
The suspension of Ertelt’s account also had a ripple effect, taking down LifeNews’s Instagram account, which was linked to his Facebook account. This resulted in months of lost reach, influence, and income for the organization. Similarly, Abby Covington’s accounts were disabled after she shared a heartfelt post about her family’s adoption journey and encouraged expectant mothers to choose life. Instead of addressing the vile messages she received from users, Facebook shut down her accounts, citing violations of its policy on “human exploitation.”
The Alliance Defending Freedom stepped in, sending a letter to Meta demanding the reinstatement of these accounts. The letter accused Meta of failing to live up to its own terms of service and violating free speech principles. The move paid off, as Meta reinstated the accounts just days before the requested deadline of January 22. Phil Sechler, senior counsel at ADF, welcomed the decision, calling it “a major step in the right direction.” However, he also noted that Meta has a long way to go in rebuilding public trust.
The timing of these reinstatements coincides with Zuckerberg’s efforts to rebrand Meta as a champion of free expression. However, this move is not without its skeptics. Meta has faced years of criticism over allegations of censorship and bias, from suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story before the 2020 election to flagging posts that fall outside of progressive orthodoxy. For many, this feels less like a genuine commitment to free speech and more like a calculated attempt to rehabilitate Meta’s tarnished image.
Meta’s announcement to scale back its heavy-handed moderation policies and replace them with a “Community Notes” system has sparked cautious optimism. However, as Steven Ertelt and Abby Covington can attest, the damage of past decisions is not easily undone. For months, these individuals and organizations were silenced, losing not only their platforms but also their ability to connect with communities that depend on their messages. The question now is whether this shift will stick, or if it’s just another PR move designed to placate critics.
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