Headlines from the last seven days

Politicians and civil rights advocates have weighed in on Meta’s decision to allow the former president Donald Trump to return to Facebook and Instagram, stating that his presence on the platforms will “fan the flames of hatred and division”.

The social media company has lifted a ban imposed on Trump after the January 6 Capitol attack. Experts in online hate speech say there is no reason to believe Trump will not resume using his social media accounts to post divisive material.

“Giving Donald Trump access to his Facebook account allows him to once again use his platform as a megaphone to spread misinformation about the integrity of our elections, incite violence and stoke the flames of white supremacy,” said Mariana Ruiz Firmat, the executive director of racial justice movement Kairos Action.

Democrat politicians have also spoken out against the decision to end the ban on Trump. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, of Illinois, said that reinstating his accounts would “only fan the flames of hatred and division that led to an insurrection”.