The Facebook Monitoring Agency today decided to suspend former President Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts.
The decision will result in Trump not being able to upload any posts or use such social media. Facebook for the first time suspended Trump’s account following the Jan. 6 uprising at the U.S. Capitol. The suspension is Facebook’s most aggressive action against Trump in his four -year tenure.
Trump and his political allies for months claimed defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in the recent election was due to fraud, sparking outrage among his supporters, the conspiracy theory was repeatedly rejected in court. Eventually the string of things led to the event.
According to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook will bear greater risks if Trump continues to be allowed to use Facebook’s services.
Facebook referred the decision to its Oversight Body a few weeks later, given the importance of the decision, "we think it's important for the body to review it and make an independent decision on whether the decision should be upheld or not."
The decision to assert Trump’s suspension is the most significant action taken so far by the Facebook Oversight Body, launched in October 2020. It acts as a “Court” to decide the decision. The body is comprised of civics, technology, freedom of speech, journalism and human rights experts from around the world.
Facebook has agreed to abide by the Oversight Body’s decision, though CEO Mark Zuckerberg still has full authority.
