Facebook grapples with coronavirus protests

Demonstrations against stay-at-home orders are presenting a new challenge for Facebook in its efforts to combat misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic.

The social media giant is allowing the groups to operate Facebook event pages in some states, while taking down content in others. A spokesperson for the company told The Hill it’s taking its cue from state governments on whether to remove pages and factoring in federal guidelines on social distancing.

In the past week, a string of small rallies — featuring between dozens and hundreds of demonstrators — have popped up across the country to protest state orders to stay at home, close nonessential businesses and restrict travel in an effort to curb the coronavirus.

Many of those demonstrations, which have involved individuals violating social distancing guidelines, have been organized on Facebook.

Facebook taking some down: But a company spokesperson said Facebook is doing its part by taking down event pages in states like California, Nebraska and New Jersey after consulting with governors about their stay-at-home orders.

“We reached out to state officials to understand the scope of their orders, not about removing specific protests on Facebook,” the spokesperson said. “We remove the posts when gatherings do not follow the health parameters established by the government and are therefore unlawful.”

Conservative condemnation: “Why is @Facebook colluding with state governments to quash peoples free speech?” Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son, tweeted. “Regardless of what you think about the lockdowns or the protests against them, this is a chilling & disturbing government directed shutdown of peoples 1st Amendment rights. Very dangerous!”

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), an outspoken critic of Silicon Valley, quote-tweeted news of the removals, asking: “Because free speech is now illegal America?”

Authenticity questioned: Many of the largest groups organizing the events are run by four brothers with a history of creating anti-gun control and anti-abortion groups, suggesting many of the demonstrations are not organic but rather driven by conservative activists, according to The Washington Post and NBC News.

The groups set up by Chris, Ben, Aaron and Matthew Dorr have reportedly amassed more than 200,000 members collectively, including in states where they don’t reside.