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Facebook says it is removing ‘any and all mention of the potential whistleblower’s name’

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Originally Published: 08 NOV 19 16:52 ET

(CNN) — Facebook said Friday that it was removing content that mentioned any potential name of the whistleblower whose complaint sparked an impeachment probe into President Trump.

“Any mention of the potential whistleblower’s name violates our coordinating harm policy, which prohibits content ‘outing of witness, informant, or activist,’” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement.

The Facebook spokesperson added, “We are removing any and all mentions of the potential whistleblower’s name and will revisit this decision should their name be widely published in the media or used by public figures in debate.”

Right-wing media has hyped a report from a website last week which claimed it had likely identified the possible whistleblower.

Twitter and YouTube have allowed the name from that report to be published on their platforms. Asked for comment, Twitter said simply tweeting the person’s name is not a violation of its rules. A representative for YouTube did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

No mainstream news organization has identified the whistleblower. CNN has sent guidance to staff about not repeating any reporting that alleges the name and identity of the whistleblower.

The attorneys for the whistleblower have said that organizations that publish a potential name risk placing the person and their family “at risk of serious harm.”

The-CNN-Wire
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