Trump Facebook suspension: Oversight board reveals the mixed reactions it got

Donald Trump

Former President Donald Trump still can’t return to Facebook, and people are divided over whether that’s a good thing.


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The oversight board that reviews Facebook’s content moderation decisions spoke out on its toughest case on Wednesday, weighing in on whether the social network was justified in banning former President Donald Trump. The case, unsurprisingly, provoked heated responses.

The board, which includes journalists, lawyers and professors, found the social network was justified in suspending Trump from his Facebook and Instagram accounts amid concerns he could whip up more violence after the Capitol Hill riot on Jan. 6. But it asked Facebook to reexamine the open-ended nature of the suspension, which isn’t addressed by the social network’s rules.

A conservative organization submitted a statement on Trump’s behalf before the oversight board ruled in the case. The American Center for Law and Justice, as well as a page administrator, said, “It is stunningly clear that in [Trump’s] speech there was no call to insurrection, no incitement to violence, and no threat to public safety in any manner.” Trump’s posts “called for those present at and around the Capitol that day to be peaceful and law-abiding, and to respect the police,” the center wrote. During his speech on Jan. 6, Trump referenced multiple debunked voter fraud conspiracy theories to the thousands in attendance saying, and said, “We will never give up, we will never concede.” He then told the crowd he would walk with them to the Capitol to “cheer” on members of Congress and not others. 

The oversight board also solicits public opinion on cases and received 9,666 responses, a volume so great it was forced to postpone its decision. By comparison, a previous case drew 12 comments. 

Many members of the public agreed with Facebook’s suspension of Trump’s account, though many others found it wrong.

Here is a brief sample of some of the comments submitted to the board: 

“I fully support the ban that Facebook imposed on Trump’s account. It should continue indefinitely. It is crystal clear that Trump incited violence as a last resort to overturn the election, ignoring basic democratic rules,” wrote Denis Van Dam. 

“Please ban Donald Trump from Facebook forever,” wrote Debbie Woodward. 

“Trump is a divisive, racist, traitor, and criminal. I support free speech but he incites violence and encourages domestic terrorism. Social media is not equipped to police his criminality,” said Gia Murray.

“Such a ban is arbitrary and unfair. Especially in view of FB’s ‘looking the other way’ practice with regard to other world leaders and politician’s vicious and hateful comments,” wrote Ted Krempa.

“We have what’s called free speech, any attempt to squash this is wrong and unlawful. Facebook should not be given the choice to remove or block posts in any way as it stifles free speech. President Trump did nothing wrong,” wrote Jerry Johnston. 

“As the leader of our country, President Trump’s communications should be viewable to all citizens. He is answerable to Congress, not private companies such as Facebook,” said Donald Moore.

“I am disheartened by your lack of empathy for sides that you don’t agree with and only want is your interest. What a disgrace your company turned out to be,” wrote Jennifer Vogel. 

“I do not believe a public corporation has the authority to be judge and jury on a 1st amendment issue regardless of your rules and regulations. Your rules and regulations are simply too complex, wordy and to many, very boring,” wrote Hal Terrell.

Many opposing Trump’s suspension from Facebook were quick to call the action against him a violation of his First Amendment right. However, companies are within their rights to ban users who break their terms of service

After the board ruled, Trump laid into Facebook, as well as Twitter and Google, on a newly started blog.

Former President Trump called the social media companies that banned him a

Former President Trump called the social media companies that banned him a “total disgrace.” 


Screenshot by CNET

“What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country,” Trump wrote. “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.”

He called the social media companies “corrupt” and said they would pay a “political price.”

Trump lost the 2020 election by more than 7 million votes. While Trump and his supporters continue to push voter fraud conspiracy theories, multiple recounts in states with close races saw little to no discrepancies from the official results. 

source: cnet.com