Meta refused to remove memes from popular veterans page after pressure from Australia’s defence department

Facebook and Instagram owner tells Defence ‘we allow for such memes’ following multiple emails over Pineapple Express pageFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastThe Australian defence department pressured Meta to remove a popular veterans meme page from Facebook and Instagram as well as dozens of posts – including those referencing the widely used Downfall meme.Documents released last week by the department under freedom of information laws reveal multiple emails from Defence to Meta since 2019 requesting the removal of posts from the Pineapple Express page. The page is followed by defence veterans and personnel, and has more than 79,000 followers and 62,000 likes.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup