Facebook’s Oversight Board to look into indefinite ban on Trump’s accounts

Social media giant Facebook’s newly formed Oversight Board has accepted a referral to look into the company’s decision to indefinitely ban former US President Donald Trump’s account on the platform. The company has also asked the Board for policy recommendations pertaining to suspensions of a user who is a political leader. The Board’s decision, as per Facebook’s earlier announcement, will be binding and final. It is expected to have a lasting impact on how Facebook deals with accounts of political leaders from hereon. Given that the platform is the largest social network on the planet, the decision could set a precedent for other platforms too.

The world’s largest social network had banned President Trump’s account on 7 January, accusing him of breaking the platform’s rules around posts inciting violence. The ban was imposed following violence at the US Capitol building, for which many have blamed Trump and his posts on social media. “Facebook’s decision to suspend Mr. Trump’s access to post on Facebook and Instagram on 7 January, 2020 has driven intense global interest.