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Facebook security is working to prevent naming the whistleblower

Facebook is banning posts that name the whistleblower who filed a report about President Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president. Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry after receiving the complaint, saying Donald Trump had threatened to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless the country provided him with dirt on a presidential rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.

Facebook says it has a policy against “coordinating harm,” which includes publishing personal information about informants, whistleblowers, and activists. Facebook said that users “outing” the whistleblower are putting him in danger.

“In an effort to prevent and disrupt real-world harm, we prohibit people from facilitating or coordinating future activity, criminal or otherwise, that is intended or likely to cause harm to people, businesses, or animals,” Facebook said in a statement. “Any mention of the potential whistleblower’s name violates our coordinating harm policy, which prohibits content ‘outing of witness, informant, or activist.’ 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.”

YouTube confirmed they are censoring the whistleblower’s name as well, and would remove videos revealing his real name.

Republicans have repeatedly demanded that Democrats “name the whistleblower” and call him to testify publicly against Trump. However, the whistleblower has reportedly wanted to remain anonymous.