Trump’s anger as Facebook ban stays
DONALD Trump has hit out over Facebook’s decision to keep banning him from the platform.
It means the former US leader will continue to be blocked from Instagram as well, which the company owns.
Trump, 74, lashed out, calling social media companies “corrupt” and against free speech.
He said: “What Facebook,Twitter and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our country.”
Despite the ruling, Facebook’s oversight board said yesterday an indefinite suspension of Trump’s account was inappropriate and the company has six months to lay out new penalties.
In explaining its decision to uphold the ban the board said: “It was not appropriate for
Facebook to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension.”
It added: “Facebook’s normal penalties include removing the violating content, imposing a time-bound period of suspension, or permanently disabling the page and account.”
Oversight board co-chair Helle ThorningSchmidt said: “We did not have an easy answer.” The company has 30 days to respond publicly, according to the board’s rules.
Facebook announced the decision to block Trump on January 7.
It came a day after the president’s supporters stormed the US Capitol in a deadly riot after they were fired up by Trump’s false claims that last November’s election was stolen from him.
Trump had more than 35 million Facebook followers and more than 24 million Instagram followers.
He is banned from Twitter forever.