Facebook restricted this activist as it grappled with fallout from the US Capitol riots

Olla thinks Facebook may have flagged him for his left-wing views calling for radical change in the US government. — The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS

PHILADELPHIA: Facebook is an important tool for Akin Olla, a West Philadelphia socialist activist. He's used the platform to organise protests outside statehouses, promote his podcast on revolutions, and share his columns criticising President Joe Biden. He’s the social media manager for a left-leaning nonprofit that trains activist groups.

But Olla, 30, found that vast platform used against him a few weeks ago. As Facebook grappled with the fallout from the deadly Jan 6 riot at the US Capitol, the company restricted Olla’s ability to communicate with others. It was part of Facebook’s widespread security measures to prevent violence on Inauguration Day.