In the binding ruling by the 20-member Oversight Board, which is largely independent and funded by the social network, it agreed that Trump’s comments on the day of the insurrection “created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible.” The board pointed to the former president calling the mob members “patriots,” “special,” and telling them to “remember this day forever.”
The board’s decision provoked swift responses from political leaders, advocates, and experts around the world. Many said that the decision merely kicked the can back to the social network and did not provide clear guidance for the treatment of boundary-pushing politicians.
The board also recommended that Facebook publish a report explaining its own role in fomenting the Jan. 6 attack.
Facebook’s Oversight Board, an independent panel selected to weigh in on content moderation decisions at the social media platform, announced WedneFacebooksday it will uphold Facebook’s Jan. 7 ban on former President Donald Trump.
But the company-appointed board also said it was “not appropriate for Facebook to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension,” asking the site to review the decision within six months. The board said Facebook “did not follow a clear, published procedure” in imposing a ban “for an undefined period, with no criteria for when or whether the account will be restored.”
“Within 6 months of today, Facebook must review this matter and decide a new penalty that reflects its rules, the severity of the violation, and prospect of future harm,” the board said. “Facebook can either impose a time-limited suspension or account deletion.”
Trump’s predictable response to the board’s decision.
