“In line with the exceptional measures that we are taking during this period of heightened tension,\u00a0we have removed the Group ‘Stop the Steal,’ which was creating real-world events<\/strong>,” a Facebook spokesman said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The mention of “real-world events” appears simply an expressed desire to hold demonstrations, which is basic protected free speech and right of assembly.<\/p>\n “The group was\u00a0organized around the delegitimization of the election process<\/strong>, and we saw worrying calls for violence from some members of the group,” Facebook claimed Thursday without providing evidence.<\/p>\n The censorship comes after a number of Trump’s own tweets alleging\u00a0“fraudulent” activity and that the election is being “stolen” from him have been slapped with labels by Twitter.<\/p>\n The massive group \u2014 which grew to 361,000 members within 24 hours \u2014 was devoted to protesting the administration of the election, which the organizers allege has been marred by “widespread ballot fraud.”<\/p>\n “Stop the Steal” was among the largest pages organizing protests against the election impasse.\u00a0Even the\u00a0WSJ is acknowledging<\/a>\u00a0Thursday afternoon that this is among\u2014<\/p>\n “the social-media giant\u2019s most aggressive moves yet to police online activity over the election results.”\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The WSJ further\u00a0notes<\/a>\u00a0that “In the minutes before the group was removed, it was adding new members at a rate of more than 25,000 people an hour<\/strong>.” Thus it appears the rapid popularity also brought it to the attention of Facebook’s election content censors.<\/p>\n The move appeared to come synonymous with multiple mainstream media outlets attacking the group as advancing “conspiracies” geared toward\u00a0“quashing a\u00a0Biden victory” – as\u00a0The Daily Beast<\/em><\/a>\u00a0put it on the same day as the sudden Facebook ban.<\/p>\n However, clearly this is a massive private tech company that is essentially banning Americans’ attempt to assemble politically in an egregious and blatant violation of 1st Amendment principles.<\/p>\n It also appears another –\u00a0yet hugely consequential given the timing – example of Facebook taking cues from major media in tandem with establishment political insiders. We’ve seen this in recent years on an array of issues from Syria content to criticisms of Russiagate to videos critically examining Black Lives Matter protests and riots, to anything independent or ‘alternative’ and lying outside the mainstream consensus.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.zerohedge.com\/s3\/files\/inline-images\/stopthesteal1.jpg?itok=rVTYeW1L\")
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