Meta is now allowing Facebook, $META, and Instagram to run political advertising saying the 2020 election was rigged

The 2020 election rigging claim has become a focal point as Meta quietly adjusted its policy in 2022, post-US midterm primaries, allowing political advertisers to assert that past elections were "rigged" or "stolen."

While Meta still bars questioning the legitimacy of ongoing or future elections, this move follows similar adjustments by other social media platforms gearing up for the fiercely contested 2024 presidential election.

In August, X (formerly Twitter) reversed its 2019 ban on political ads.

Likewise, in June, YouTube ceased removing content falsely alleging election fraud, emphasizing the need to protect open political debate. Meta considered free-speech implications in its decision, with Nick Clegg, president of global affairs, advocating against the company determining election legitimacy.

A recent Facebook ad by Donald Trump, permitted under the new rules, drew criticism from The Tech Oversight Project, warning of potential threats to democracy in 2024.