Facebook, Twitter remove Trump’s manipulated ‘toddler besties’ video after parent complains

President Donald Trump has practically had free reign on Facebook. Despite whatever or Trump posts, the social media giant, particularly its founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has defended its decisions to keep the president’s posts on its platform.

On Friday, however, Facebook removed Trump’s video that edited a viral video of two toddler’s hugging into a fake CNN news package. Trump’s video manipulated a sweet moment to amplify his “fake news” rallying cry to undermine news reports of systemic racism and police brutality. 

In the original video, two toddlers, one Black and one white, run towards each other for a hug. Trump’s doctored version made it appear as if CNN was reporting that the white boy was menacingly running after the Black boy. (CNN’s actual coverage of the touching viral video last year did nothing of the sort.)

Twitter, which initially had just placed a “manipulated media” tag on the video, has also taken the clip down.

So, why did these social networks decide to remove the clip? They each received a copyright complaint from one of the toddler’s parents, according to . 

Before Facebook acted on the complaint, it had already racked up 4 million views. On Twitter, the video received more than 20.5 million views before it was removed.

“Per our copyright policy, we respond to valid copyright complaints sent to us by a copyright owner or their authorized representatives,” Twitter said in a statement sent to Mashable.

Viral video company Jukin Media, which represents content creators such as the parents who own this clip, provided a statement to CNN explaining how “neither the video owner nor Jukin Media gave the President permission to post the video.

“After our review, we believe that his unauthorized usage of the content is a clear example of copyright infringement without valid fair use or other defense,” the statement continued.

However, on Friday evening, when it received the copyright complaint, also known as a DMCA notice, it took the next step in removing the clip entirely.

Social media companies, in particular Facebook, have faced a firestorm of criticism over the years for their inaction relating to Trump’s posts. Despite violating their policies against violent rhetoric, the companies would leave them untouched. Even the company’s own employees have against their employers’ practices. 

While Trump’s misinformation and violent rhetoric is allowed to remain on social media platforms, there is one rule that even he can’t break: copyright laws.