Controversial MP Craig Kelly hits back after being permanently deleted from Facebook

Outspoken MP Craig Kelly has hit back at Facebook after his profile was removed for spreading COVID-19 misinformation.

Controversial MP Craig Kelly has hit back at Facebook after his profile was removed by the social media giant for his “repeated” spreading of misinformation about COVID-19.

Taking to Twitter, the member for Hughes accused the social media platform of attacking freedom of political speech.

“It‘s wrong to censor the free speech of elected officials as it threatens our democracy,” his post read.

“It's NOT misinformation to have a difference of opinion.

“The idea that the faceless people of Facebook are purveyors of all truth is OUTRAGEOUS!”

FACEBOOK ATTACKS FREEDOM OF POLITICAL SPEECH

It's wrong to censor the free speech of elected officials as it threatens our democracy

It's NOT misinformation to have a difference of opinion

The idea that the faceless people of Facebook are purveyors of all truth is OUTRAGEOUS !

— Craig Kelly MP (@CraigKellyMP) April 26, 2021

Many people replied to the post defending Facebook’s stance.

“Just because it‘s your opinion and you want it to be true, doesn’t mean it is. Again lol,” one person wrote.

“I’m hoping beyond hope they ban you from Twitter too,” another said.

In a statement, a Facebook spokesman said the platform didn’t allow “anyone, including elected officials”, to share misinformation about COVID-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm, or COVID-19 vaccines that have been debunked by public health experts.

“We have clear policies against this type of content and have removed Mr Kelly’s Facebook page for repeated violations of this policy,” the spokesman said.

Facebook had previously pulled several of Mr Kelly’s posts for breaching the company’s Misinformation and Harm policy.

Mr Kelly quit the Liberal Party to join the crossbench in February, after heavy criticism for his commentary about COVID-19, as well as for his handling of serious allegations made against one of his staffers.