BAN ON DONALD TRUMPHS SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS :FACEBOOK OVERSIGHT BOARD UPHOLDS DECISION

  • 05/05/2021

Facebook's independent oversight committee on Wednesday upheld the social media platform's January 7 decision to restrict former United States President Donald Trump's accounts. However, the board called for a review of the matter within six months."Given the seriousness of the violations and the ongoing risk of violence, Facebook was justified in suspending Mr Trump's accounts on January 6 and extending that suspension on January 7," a statement from the board said. "However, it was not appropriate for Facebook to impose an 'indefinite' suspension."The board said that it was not permissible for the social networking platform to keep a user away from it for an "undefined period, with no criteria for when or whether the account will be restored". It also noted that indefinite suspensions were not described in the company's policies.

"In applying this penalty, Facebook did not follow a clear, published procedure," the board said. "'Indefinite' suspensions are not described in the company's content policies. Facebook's normal penalties include removing the violating content, imposing a time-bound period of suspension, or permanently disabling the page and account."The oversight board also said Facebook should review its "arbitrary penalty" and instead impose an appropriate one. "This penalty must be based on the gravity of the violation and the prospect of future harm," the committee said. "It must also be consistent with Facebook's rules for severe violations, which must, in turn, be clear, necessary and proportionate."


Trump's Twitter account was permanently suspended on January 8, in the wake of violence in the US Capitol building by his supporters. The micro-blogging platform cited "risk of further incitement of violence" as reason behind the move. His account was initially blocked for 12 hours, but Twitter took permanent action following two of Trump's tweets against the platform.Facebook and its sister company Instagram have also banned Trump's accounts for an indefinite period.

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