The Facebook Oversight Board just ruled that former President Trump will not be permitted back onto the platform, upholding its indefinite ban of the 45th president.
The decision of the oversight board has a twist, however. The board upheld the suspension but did say that the indefinite suspension “was not appropriate.” The board’s decision is not binding on Facebook and only a recommendation. The board essentially punted “insisting” that Facebook “review this matter to determine and justify a proportionate response that is consistent with the rules that are applied to other users of its platform.” CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said that he is committed to following the board’s decision on the matter.
The Hill reports:
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s decision to leave the fate of Trump’s Facebook account up to the Oversight Board drew widespread criticism from tech critics on the right and left.
“The real concern is not Facebook’s Trump decision but the way in which this powerful corporation is attempting to dodge accountability by engaging in covert influence schemes to shape public opinion and policy. This compromised Board is only going to make governance and effective regulation even more difficult,” said Jennifer Grygiel, an assistant professor of communications at Syracuse University.
The board has 20 members, and will be doubled in size when fully staffed. Facebook made an initial commitment of $130 million for a trust to cover operation costs of the board, but the board has its own staff independent from the social media giant.
Senator Josh Hawley criticized the oversight board’s process last night before they issued the ruling.
“I don’t think any one company should have this kind of power over speech, over data, over news and information. Facebook has tremendous power. I have no idea, of course, what the decision of their oversight board will be and I think what it is is less important than the sheer amount of power they exercise and, of course, the total lack of transparency.”
Yesterday, Former President Trump launched his new communication platform, “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump” which currently features his statements that had been sent via email. Eventually, the platform will provide an avenue for supporters to communicate more directly with Trump.
Former President Trump released a statement slamming the board’s decision.
“What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country. Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before,” Trump wrote. “The People of our Country will not stand for it! These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process.”
