Facebook has banned a Dorset-based historical re-enactment society for a second time after mistaking it for a far-right militia group.
Five elderly members of the Wimborne Militia of Dorset were left bemused after their Facebook accounts were suspended last month.
The social media giant had been taking down and restricting accounts of right-wing paramilitary groups in the US following the storming of the US Capitol.
Although the militia members’ pages were reinstated after a mistake last month, they have again been taken off the platform following the events in Washington last week.
On Monday, a committee page for five members who are administrators on the official Wimborne Militia Facebook page was disabled.
Wimborne Militia recreates historic battles from the 17th century and helps out with other local events – including recently turning on a town’s Christmas lights
One of those affected is Chris Brown (pictured), who is also the local town crier
Wimborne Militia currently has about 60 members and recreates historical events such as the Battle of Monmouth. Pictured, its Facebook page
When they try to access the page it states the link has been disabled and that it was ‘irreversible’.
Wimborne Militia currently has about 60 members and recreates historical events such as the Battle of Monmouth.
It is well known at local events, such as the annual switching on of the Christmas lights in Wimborne.
With many of its activities cancelled during the pandemic, the group has relied on social media to keep in touch with members and stage virtual events.
Chris Brown, 64, a member of the Wimborne Militia and the town crier, said: ‘The committee page for the five officers who run the group was taken down on Monday.
‘The page says it has been disabled and when you click on the link it says it is irreversible.
‘We were led to believe after the first time it happened we would be marked as “ok” and it would not happen again.
Although the militia members’ pages were reinstated after a mistake last month, they have again been taken off the platform following the events in Washington last week (pictured)
A supporter of Donald Trump carries a Confederate battle flag on the second floor of the US Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defenses on January 6
Wimborne Militia entertain the crowd by firing their muskets. The group relies on social media to keep the public informed of its activities – especially during the coronavirus pandemic
‘There must be an algorithm picking out the word “militia”, although the bizarre thing is our normal society page is still active.
‘We are a bunch of eccentrics who like to dress in fancy clothes, not people who want to topple the government.
‘We’d like to think we are conscientious members of society and I also help run Neighbourhood Watch pages.
‘We are the opposite of the people storming the US congress last week. The whole thing is very weird.’
Facebook has been approached for comment.
The group relies on social media to keep the public informed of its activities – especially during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last month it said in a post on Facebook: ‘Hello, It seem that due to events overseas, Facebook is deleting anything to do with Militias.
‘Unfortunately despite being a British Reenactment society we seem to have been caught up in the algorithm.
‘So if this page disappears that is why. We shall have to start again!’
The Monmouth Rebellion, also known as the Pitchfork Rebellion, the Revolt of the West or the West Country rebellion, was an attempt to overthrow James II.
Facebook began banning militia groups in the US after critics claimed the platform was being used to encourage violence.
In October the company began down-ranking content in restricted pages and groups, meaning members would only see it further down in their feed.
‘We are also prohibiting anyone on our platform from running ads that praise, support or represent militarized social movements and QAnon,’ Facebook said in an update.
In August, Facebook had banned about 900 pages and groups and 1,500 ads tied to the conspiracy theorists which believe the president is secretly fighting against elite Satan-worshiping pedophiles in the government.
The effort was part of what they called a ‘policy expansion,’ seeking to limit violent rhetoric tied to QAnon, political militias and protest groups like Antifa.
Brian Fishman, who runs Facebook’s global counterterrorism team, said they identified more than 300 groups under the policy and removed more than 6,500 groups and pages between August 19 and September 15.
Facebook, which moved to take down or restrict controversial accounts last year, said it had restored the militia members’ accounts after an ‘error’.
A spokesman told MailOnline at the time: ‘The Group and accounts were removed in error and have now been restored. We’re sorry for any upset this has caused and we’ve taken steps to prevent this happening again.’