Facebook’s Oversight Board ruled Wednesday that the ban on former President Donald Trump’s Twitter and Instagram pages be upheld. The board also concluded that an indefinite ban would not be appropriate, given that it would be an “indeterminate and standardless penalty.”
“The Board has upheld Facebook’s decision on January 7, 2021, to restrict then-President Donald Trump’s access to posting content on his Facebook page and Instagram account,” the board said in its announcement Wednesday morning.
Facebook responded to the board’s decision, saying they believe their ban on Trump in January was “necessary and right,” and are “pleased the board has recognized that the unprecedented circumstances justified the exceptional measure we took.”
Facebook said it will “now consider the board’s decision and determine an action that is clear and proportionate.”
“In the meantime, Mr. Trump’s accounts remain suspended,” Facebook said.
Conservatives flocked to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the ruling, prompting a conversation on whether or not Facebook should be completely disbanded.
Disgraceful.
For every liberal celebrating Trump’s social media ban, if the Big Tech oligarchs can muzzle the former President, what’s to stop them from silencing you? https://t.co/Yky4P0B38X
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 5, 2021
“Facebook and Twitter and others have clearly established two different sets of rules. One if you’re a conservative or a Republican or have a different ideology than them and one if you’re a liberal,” Corey Lewandowski, one of Trump’s longtime political advisers, said in a radio interview.
Americans ranging from Trump to everyday citizens have been banned from Twitter & Facebook.@SenBryanHughes‘ bill in the #txlege makes this censorship illegal in TX.
I support #SB12 because it protects Texans from Big Tech’s effort to silence conservative viewpoints.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 5, 2021
“Facebook’s decision to uphold its ban on President Donald Trump is extremely disappointing. It’s clear that Mark Zuckerberg views himself as the arbiter of free speech,” Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., said in a statement, Fox News reports.
Facebook and Twitter ban a former U.S. President, yet, some of the world’s worst dictators, terrorists, and bad actors still have a platform.
This is a gross double standard and it’s why most Americans don’t trust big tech.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) May 5, 2021
“Big tech thinks it can control everything. Companies that censor Americans while giving brutal dictators a pass should not have free rein over your personal data to use for their benefit. I introduced the DATA Act to hold big tech accountable,” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote on Twitter.
The former president issued a statement saying the recent events are a “total disgrace and embarrassment” to America.
“Free speech has been taken away,” Trump says. “But the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before.” {eoa}
