Facebook removed Elizabeth Warren's adverts calling for it to be broken up

'Curious why I think Facebook has too much? Let's start with their ability to shut down a debate over whether Facebook has too much power,' the Senator said

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, one of several Democrats running for the party's nomination in the 2020 presidential race, speaks during a campaign event, 8 March, 2019 in New York City (Getty Images)

Facebook took down online ads criticising the vast political and economic power that it and other technology giants wield.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, whose 2020 presidential campaign was behind the ads, said their removal reinforced the point that these companies have far too much power.

"Curious why I think Facebook has too much? Let's start with their ability to shut down a debate over whether Facebook has too much power," she tweeted.

"I want a social media marketplace that isn't dominated by a single censor. #BreakUpBigTech."

The ads detailed Senator Warren's plan to break up Facebook's apparent monopoly over social media and messaging apps following its acquisition of both Instagram and WhatsApp.

A detailed blogpost on Medium by Sen. Warren explained how the tech monopolies are hurting small businesses and stifling innovation.

It also has a knock on effect of allowing the companies to not having to compete as aggressively in key areas like protecting people's privacy, she claims.

"Three companies have vast power over our economy and our democracy. Facebook, Amazon and Google," the ads stated.

"We all use them. But in their rise to power, they've bulldozed competition, used our private information for profit, and tilted the playing field in their favour."

Facebook confirmed the ads were removed due to its ad policy that bans the use of its own corporate logo, adding that it was in the process of restoring them after Politico reported on the takedown.

"We removed the ads because they violated our policies against use of our corporate logo," a Facebook spokesperson told The Independent.

"In the interest of allowing robust debate, we are restoring the ads."