Alberta premier claims her Facebook was blocked from posting

Alberta’s Premier Danielle Smith claims her Facebook account was recently blocked from posting by Facebook “for a few days”.

In a tweet Wednesday, Smith says “Big tech and government censorship is becoming a danger to free speech around the world. My Facebook account has been banned from posting content for a few days.”

Before adding, “As the Premier of a province of 4.6 million Albertans- if they can prevent me from communicating with you, imagine what they can do to any one of us. Regardless of our political leanings, we must all stand against censorship.”

Big tech and government censorship is becoming a danger to free speech around the world.
My Facebook account has been banned from posting content for a "few days".
As the Premier of a province of 4.6 million Albertans- if they can prevent me from communicating with you, imagine… pic.twitter.com/Qsub4tEpiI

— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) June 14, 2023

CityNews reached out to the office of the Premier for a comment, which responded, “We are waiting for further information and clarification from Facebook as to why the Premier’s account is being censored. The explanation received from Facebook thus far notes the ban will last for “a few days”.”

Additionally, CityNews reached out to Facebook and a spokesperson for Facebook’s parent company, Meta, responded “There were no restrictions placed on the Premier’s Page. One of the Page’s administrators faced restrictions, but that did not impact the underlying Page’s ability to post content.”

Meta also noted they “don’t share private account specifics” when CityNews asked if the premier’s page has more than one administrators.

Many are raising questions about the situation, including what could have left Smith with a ban in the first place, or any proof of it happening.

Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams is one of those people.

“If there’s nothing that she can do or intends to do with respect to it, is it just sort of an appeal to a culture war sort-of concern, or is there more to it?” she asked.

Williams adds that it wasn’t clear what led to the situation in the premier’s post.

“We don’t have any information, information I expected would have been provided,” she said.

Access restored

On Thursday, Smith tweeted out access to her page had been restored, attaching a picture of the message she said was displayed.

“Happy to report, my page is able to post on Facebook again,” Smith wrote, “This was the error that appeared on my page.

“I hope this is the last time it happens.”

Happy to report, my page is able to post on Facebook again. This was the error that appeared on my page. I hope this is the last time it happens.#cdnpoli #abpoli pic.twitter.com/G65on88da3

— Danielle Smith (@ABDanielleSmith) June 15, 2023

-With files from Courtney Theriault and Carly Robinson, CityNews