Facebook Oversight Board Upholds Permanent Trump Ban For Creating "Serious Risk Of Violence" Published: May 5, 2021 Facebook's oversight board on Wednesday decided to uphold the company's indefinite suspension of former president Donald Trump, claiming that "Trump’s posts during the Capitol riot severely violated Facebook’s rules and encouraged and legitimized violence." The Board also found Facebook violated its own rules by imposing a suspension that was ‘indefinite.’ This penalty is not described in Facebook’s content policies. It has no clear criteria and gives Facebook total discretion on when to impose or lift it. — Oversight Board (@OversightBoard) May 5, 2021
" Mr. Trump created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible," the oversight board continues, adding that "At the time of Mr. Trump’s posts, there was a clear, immediate risk of harm and his words of support for those involved in the riots legitimized their violent actions. As president, Mr. Trump had a high level of influence."