Former TV3 presenter Aisling O’Loughlin has been banned from Instagram for “repeatedly sharing harmful misinformation” on the issues of vaccines and COVID-19.
A native of Shannon, Aisling joined TV3’s news team in 2001 where she stayed until the launch of the entertainment show Xposé in April 2007. Prior to this, she worked with both Clare FM and The Limerick Leader.
Over recent months, Aisling shared several false claims on her Instagram account including RTÉ stars getting paid off by pharma companies and that “parastic worms” are in face masks.
Facebook which owns Instagram confirmed that Aisling’s account was was removed “for repeatedly sharing harmful misinformation and fact-checked hoaxes related to Covid-19 and the vaccines. We are taking aggressive steps to fight harmful misinformation about Covid-19 and approved vaccines and remove violating content that is brought to our attention”.
Her removal followed a video whereby she questioned if the collapse of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen during Euro 2020 was “related to the jab or the so-called vaccination”.
Aisling has labelled her ban from the social media platform as “alarming”. She is now using the encrypted messaging app Telegram to reach her followers and has used the term”truthseeker” to describe herself.
She said the ban from Instagram was not surprising. “We pumped out a lot of information that I think people really needed to hear and deserved to hear, especially if you’re going to take part in an experimental injection.
“I think as well, what happened with my Insta, I kind of welcome it in a sense that it’s a symbol of the way freedom of speech, free debate, open debate is being shut down. I think it’s alarming, I think we should be alarmed, I hope you’re alarmed out there and aren’t falling for the propaganda out there”.
