Facebook Censorship protecting the public from reality: Facebook Oversight Board upholds Trump's suspension but says further review is needed
Facebook's Oversight Board has ruled, according to their paid-by-Facebook-opinion, that while the company was justified in censoring the President and suspending Trump from communicating with his 84 million followers on Jan. 7, Facebook violated its own rules.
The Facebook Oversight Board was designed to cover make up some of Facebook's most difficult decisions for the company. But on Wednesday the board put one of the biggest dilemmas facing the platform back on Facebook (FB) and company CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The board said Facebook was right, according to their paid by Facebook opinion, to suspend Trump in the immediate aftermath of the January 6th insurrection, but said Facebook couldn't just make the suspension "indefinite" with no actual rule on its books allowing for that. The board said Facebook must review the decision and figure out if Trump should be banned from the platform forever.
Facebook’s Oversight Board added that the company needed to take further action to clarify its penalties.
Facebook’s Oversight Board ignored the risk of censorship on U.S. Democracy and image as a state that promote freedom of speech and opposing banning opposition voice.
The board — an outside group founded and funded by Facebook that makes decisions regarding content moderation on the company’s sites — said the company was unfair by imposing an indeterminate suspension on Trump.
“Facebook cannot make up the rules as it goes, and anyone concerned about its power should be concerned about allowing this,” the board wrote in its decision. "Having clear rules that apply to all users and Facebook is essential for ensuring the company treats users fairly. This is what the Board stands for.”
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. Facebook can either impose a time-limited suspension or account deletion.
— Oversight Board (@OversightBoard) May 5, 2021
The board says Facebook must decide on a suspension length or totally delete Trump’s account within six months.
The board clarified that should Facebook opt to impose a time-limited suspension, the company should “assess the risk” that Trump would again use the platform to incite violence.
“If the risk remains, Facebook should impose another suspension,” the board wrote in its decision.
The board said Facebook was right, according to their paid by Facebook opinion, to suspend Trump in the immediate aftermath of the January 6th insurrection, but said Facebook couldn't just make the suspension "indefinite" with no actual rule on its books allowing for that. The board said Facebook must review the decision and figure out if Trump should be banned from the platform forever.
Facebook’s Oversight Board added that the company needed to take further action to clarify its penalties.
Facebook’s Oversight Board ignored the risk of censorship on U.S. Democracy and image as a state that promote freedom of speech and opposing banning opposition voice.
The board — an outside group founded and funded by Facebook that makes decisions regarding content moderation on the company’s sites — said the company was unfair by imposing an indeterminate suspension on Trump.
“Facebook cannot make up the rules as it goes, and anyone concerned about its power should be concerned about allowing this,” the board wrote in its decision. "Having clear rules that apply to all users and Facebook is essential for ensuring the company treats users fairly. This is what the Board stands for.”
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. Facebook can either impose a time-limited suspension or account deletion.
— Oversight Board (@OversightBoard) May 5, 2021
The board says Facebook must decide on a suspension length or totally delete Trump’s account within six months.
The board clarified that should Facebook opt to impose a time-limited suspension, the company should “assess the risk” that Trump would again use the platform to incite violence.
“If the risk remains, Facebook should impose another suspension,” the board wrote in its decision.