Trump still banned from Facebook but board demands company review
The company improperly imposed an indeterminate suspension without clear standards, the board said, requiring a review from the firm.
Facebook Inc's oversight board upheld the suspension of former United States President Donald Trump, but gave the company six months to determine a "balanced response" going forward, a verdict that may chart how social media will treat the problem. non-compliance with the rules by world leaders in the future.
The company improperly imposed an indeterminate suspension without clear standards, the board said, requiring a review from the firm.
The board said Facebook should determine an answer that is consistent with the rules applied to other users of the platform.
"Facebook left the indefinite suspension and referred the whole matter to the oversight board, apparently hoping that the board would do what it had not done," said Michael McConnell, co-chair of the body, during a press conference after publishing his decision on Wednesday. .
McConnell added: "Indefinite sanctions of this type fail the international or US test for clarity, consistency and transparency."
Facebook indefinitely blocked Trump's access to his Facebook and Instagram accounts over concerns of more violent unrest, following the Jan.6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of the former president.
"We will now consider the board's decision and determine action that is clear and proportionate," Nick Clegg, Facebook's vice president of communication and global affairs, posted in a blog post after the decision.
"Meanwhile, Mr. Trump's accounts remain suspended."
At the time of the suspension, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post that "the risks of allowing the president to continue using our service during this period are simply too great."
The company subsequently referred the case to its newly established board, which includes academics, lawyers and rights activists, to decide whether or not to uphold the ban.
"Both decisions are dead ends for Facebook," said Kate Klonick, an associate professor of law at St. John's University, who joined Facebook to follow the creation of the board.
"So, transferring them to a third party, the supervisory board, is a victory for them, whatever happens."
