Others say that without the threat of imminent violence, Meta could make the case that Trump’s account should be restored. They note that with Trump already declaring his 2024 candidacy for president, continuing his suspension would constitute an unprecedented restriction of the digital speech of a major American presidential candidate.

“These platforms are in a difficult position of deciding whether they’re going to make their audience available only to one candidate but not another,” said Nate Persily, a professor at Stanford Law School who specializes in election issues and free speech.

“There are plenty of places around the world where there’s constant violence that is being incited by leaders,” Persily said. “The question has always been: Is this a unique decision for Trump, or is this actually an interpretation of community standards that apply worldwide?”