In a major development, Mark Zuckerberg owned Facebook has suspended the former US President Donald Trump until at least January 2023 and it also brought in several changes on how world leaders will be treated if they violate the rules of the social media platform.
This development came after the deadly January 6 Capitol Hill riot, determining he had incited violence. Facebook said that suspension will last at least two years from the date of the initial block and would only be lifted if the risk to public safety has reduced.
Meanwhile, Trump was not pleased with Facebook’s ban and he criticized the decision as a form of censorship and an insult to his voters.
Besides Facebook, Twitter has already banned Trump permanently and he remains suspended by Alphabet`s YouTube as the after effect of the riot. Trump, who shut down his recently launched blog, this week has teased plans to start his own platform.
“Given the gravity of the circumstances that led to Mr. Trump`s suspension, we believe his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols,” Facebook`s Nick Clegg remarked in the post.
Facebook`s oversight board, an independent group funded by the company who rules on a small slice of controversial content decisions, in May upheld the company`s unprecedented block on Trump. However, the board ruled it was wrong to make the ban indefinite and called for a “proportionate response.”
In a statement, Trump slammed the decision and repeated false claims of voter fraud:” “Facebook`s ruling is an insult to the record-setting 75M people, plus many others, who voted for us in the 2020 Rigged Presidential Election. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing, and ultimately, we will win. Our Country can’t take this abuse anymore!”
Trump added, “Next time I`m in the White House there will be no more dinners, at his request, with Mark Zuckerberg and his wife. It will be all business!”
