AP Technology Writers
Former President Donald Trump won’t return to Facebook at least not yet.
Four months after Facebook suspended Trump’s accounts, having concluded that he incited violence leading to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the company’s quasi-independent oversight board upheld the bans. But it told Facebook to specify how long they would last, saying that its “indefinite” ban on the former president was unreasonable. The ruling, which gives Facebook six months to comply, effectively postpones any possible Trump reinstatement and puts the onus for that decision squarely back on the company.
That could leave Facebook in the worst of all possible worlds one in which Trump’s supporters remain enraged over the bans, his critics pushing for broader social-media regulation and the company stuck with a momentous issue it clearly hoped the oversight board would resolve.
Facebook said it has publicly made clear that the oversight board is not a replacement for regulation.
SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook s oversight board, which on Wednesday upheld the company s ban of former President Donald Trump, also had some harsh words for its corporate sponsor: Facebook. In applying a vague, standardless penalty and then referring this case to the Board to resolve, Facebook seeks to avoid its responsibilities, the board wrote in its decision.
But critics aren t convinced that the board s decision represents a triumph of accountability. Many, in fact, see its narrow focus on one-off content issues as a distraction from deeper problems such as Facebook s massive power, its shadowy algorithms that can amplify hate and misinformation and more serious and complicated questions about government regulation.
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Facebook s oversight board: Watchdog or distraction?
FILE - In this April 14, 2020 file photo, the thumbs up Like logo is shown on a sign at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebook s oversight board, which on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 upheld the company’s ban of former President Donald Trump, also had some harsh words for its corporate sponsor: Facebook. But critics aren t convinced this decision is a triumph of accountability, and say its actions may actually distract from more fundamental issues that Facebook seems less interested in talking about. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
Facebook board upholds Trump ban, just not an indefinite one newschannel6now.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from newschannel6now.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.