Libs of TikTok was suspended, and quickly unsuspended, from Facebook over the weekend for allegedly violating the platform's “community standards.”
For the most part, the popular account is simply reposting TikTok videos that were originally posted by liberals themselves.
“The Libs of TikTok page has been disabled because it violates our community standards,” Facebook said in an email to the account holder, Chaya Raichik, on Saturday.
broke down: @Facebook I just suspended Libs from TikTok. They claim we violated community standards. pic.twitter.com/1tt7mrUXDu
– Libs TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 31, 2023
LoTT has millions of followers across all major social media platforms.
“You cannot visit the page and will not be able to add new people to work on the page,” the email added.
Government censorship of technology is one of the biggest issues of our time.
Democrats are using Silicon Valley private companies to do by the back door what they can't do by the front door: silence dissent. https://t.co/soFukrDAcN
– Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 31, 2023
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy commented on the comment, writing on X:
Government censorship of technology is one of the biggest issues of our time. Democrats are using Silicon Valley private companies to do by the back door what they can't do by the front door: silence dissent.
The next day, after significant backlash, LoTT was restored.
broke down: @Facebook We just gave in to the pressure and recalculated! Thank you to everyone who shared, spoke up and tagged them.
Follow us on Facebook here while we still have an account: https://t.co/TJLlV3A0Q3 https://t.co/vZRFyP1G5o pic.twitter.com/gIVhqIvISH
– Libs TikTok (@libsoftiktok) December 31, 2023
“After reviewing your appeal, your Libs of Tik Tok page has been published,” the company said in an email. “This means it can now be viewed in public.”
Before Elon Musk bought Twitter and changed it to “X” in 2022, LoTT creator Chaya Raichik said she would sue the company if it was banned. The account faced suspension repeatedly before Musk took over.
Raichek also posted a link to a letter sent to Vijaya Jade, Twitter's then head of legal, policy and trust, warning her of potential legal action if she was censored.
“LOTT exists to hold a mirror up to our community. Our client primarily reposts publicly available content on other social media pages and platforms, where users state their views in their own words,” the letter read.
“Much of LOTT's work has focused on airing the views of people in influential positions, especially teachers in public schools. LOTT's reporting has shown that many of these teachers express disdain for the views of the taxpayers who pay their salaries, benefits, and pension plans. Some observers credit Our client reports are credited with helping drive legislative reform at the state and local levels, and inspiring parents to become more involved in their local school boards.
In June 2022, a leaked internal Twitter conversation revealed that employees were discussing whether they could get away with banning the Libs of TikTok without major backlash.
internal @Twitter Slow chat discussing the ban @libsoftiktok Unbelievable. They should all be expelled. pic.twitter.com/dsGFhXM9gm
– Megan Fox (@MeganFoxWriter) June 14, 2022
Staff cited the ability to censor President Donald Trump as a reason they thought it would be okay.
