America First Policy Institute Seeks Legal Action Against Meta

Leading Conservative Policy Group Seeks Answers and Documents Following Account Suspension/Deletion

WASHINGTON, DC –Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is taking legal action against Meta, the parent company of social media platforms Instagram and Facebook, following the company’s decision to suspend and delete the policy group’s Instagram account on January 10, 2024. The company reinstated AFPI's account hours later after a national public outcry from prominent conservative lawmakers, thought leaders, and groups.

“The America First Policy Institute will fight Big Tech censorship against conservatives, not just on our behalf, but for the millions of Americans who can’t apply national public pressure from presidential candidates, leading conservatives in Congress, or with the means to fight back and protect their right to free speech,” said Brooke Rollins, President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute. “It is clear Big Tech companies are up to their old censorship tricks again. You never hear about liberal groups and individuals having their accounts deleted.”

The letter from America First Policy Institute’s General Counsel demands Meta fully explain its decision. It also instructs the company to “preserve all internal communications, records, and documentation relating to (1) the suspension, appeal, termination, and subsequent reinstatement of AFPI’s Instagram account; (2) the algorithmic flagging and/or targeting of user content containing the words “Hunter Biden,” “Joe Biden,” “James Biden,” or “Biden Family;” and (3) the algorithmic flagging and/or targeting of user content that discusses a two-tier justice system, an abuse of prosecutorial discretion, Biden Administration bias, destruction of the rule of law, or any substantially similar phrase that contemplates the inequal or unjust application of the law.”

Timeline of America First Policy Institute’s Instagram Suspension/Deletion:

January 10, 2024 - 8:21 am ET - AFPI posts on Instagram at 8:21 am ET Jan. 10, 2024 - graphic focused on the Biden Administration and factual statements about Hunter Biden ignoring congressional subpoena.

January 10, 2024 - 8:49am ET - Instagram suspends @a1policy account, informing us we have "activity on it, [that] doesn't follow our Community Guidelines on fraud and deception."

January 10, 2024 - 9:13 am ET – Appeal submitted. The system said it usually takes a whole day to get an answer.

January 10, 2024 - 9:16 am ET - After a 3-minute review, the account was deemed to violate “fraud and deception” standards, was permanently suspended, and scheduled for deletion. Instagram notes this is a FINAL decision, and further review is impossible.

January 10, 2024 - 9:54 am ET - Brooke Rollins tweets out a screenshot of Instagram’s deplatforming of AFPI’s account. Within 45 min of posting, high-profile political organizations and individuals amplify, raising the profile of the issue to national attention.

January 10, 2024 - 1:01 pm ET - Instagram restores account and says the post did not violate "fraud and deception" standards.

January 10, 2024 - 1:22 pm ET – AFPI contacted by Meta External Affairs.

January 10, 2024 - 3:10 pm ET - AFPI & Meta connect via telephone.

AFPI’s letter demands answers from Meta by 5 pm ET on Friday, January 12, 2024, or AFPI will take further legal action.

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