Facebook has “unpublished” four pages belonging to InfoWars in a move that could financially devastate the conspiracy theory empire. Facebook is avoiding the word “ban,” since InfoWars can appeal the decision, unlike Apple’s recent move to ban InfoWars podcasts, something that’s understood to be permanent.
Facebook has “unpublished” four pages belonging to InfoWars in a move that could financially devastate the conspiracy theory empire. Facebook is avoiding the word “ban,” since InfoWars can appeal the decision, unlike Apple’s recent move to ban InfoWars podcasts, something that’s understood to be permanent.
Facebook “unpublished” the Alex Jones Channel Page, the Alex Jones Page, the InfoWars Page, and the Infowars Nightly News Page, which had together racked up millions of fans. Paul Joseph Watson, a British contributor to the InfoWars misinformation sites, has called the move a permanent ban, directly contradicting claims by Facebook that it’s a temporary decision.
What does it mean to “unpublish” a page from Facebook? Is it like deleting the pages? Not exactly. Facebook’s explanation, published this morning, makes it clear that InfoWars has the right to appeal the decision and could get its pages reinstated:
The company also makes it clear that it’s acting on its community standards, “which cover things like hate speech that attacks or dehumanizes others.” Apple also cited “hate speech” when it banned InfoWars podcasts yesterday.
The social media company says that Alex Jones has used graphic violence as well as “dehumanizing language” in violation of its hate speech policies. Facebook continues:
Jones, who reportedly makes as much as $18 million a year selling diet supplements on his website, could face a huge shortfall in his viewership if the Facebook decision becomes permanent. Without Apple and Facebook, Jones could see his empire begin to crumble, despite still being present on platforms like Twitter, where he’s amassed over 820,000 followers.
Gizmodo has reached out to Facebook and InfoWars for comment about the decision to “unpublish” the pages and will update this article when we hear back.
[ Facebook]
