Instagram has removed the account of prominent US vaccine skeptic Robert F Kennedy Jr for posting misleading information about COVID-19.
Mr Kennedy, a lawyer and environmentalist who is the nephew of late President John F Kennedy, had 800,000 followers on Instagram before his account was deleted.
The account was removed “for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines,” multiple US media outlets reported, citing a spokesperson.
Earlier this week, Facebook, which owns Instagram, said it was ramping up efforts to stem the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.
It said the move included banning groups that repeatedly spread misinformation and debunked claims about the virus and vaccines in general.
Mr Kennedy’s Facebook page, where he also posts about vaccines and which has more than 300,000 followers, was still online at the time of publication.
Last year, Australian chef Pete Evans posted a selfie with Mr Kennedy on Instagram, tagging his Children’s Health Defense organisation.
Evans’ Facebook page was removed in December for repeatedly breaching its misinformation policies around COVID-19.
With Reuters.
