Facebook announced on Friday that it has suspended former President Donald Trump from its platform for two years. Trump will not be allowed to use Facebook or Instagram until at least January 2023.
“We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest,” Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president of global affairs, said in a statement.
“If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded.
“When the suspension is eventually lifted, there will be a strict set of rapidly escalating sanctions that will be triggered if Mr. Trump commits further violations in future, up to and including permanent removal of his pages and accounts,” Clegg added.
The move follows Facebook’s decision in May to uphold its ban on Trump following the events at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. The oversight board had required a review within six months.
The company’s new announcement toward Trump reveals the growing divide between conservative Americans and the nation’s top social media companies. An outlet that once allowed users to express their free speech rights now increasingly reveals conservative bias cloaked in alleged violations of community guidelines.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently said he believes Facebook and other social media companies should be treated like utilities. The change would force social media outlets to allow free speech for all and remove liability from social media companies.
However, Thomas added such legislation would have to come from Congress. As a Justice, he would only be able to rule on existing laws.
Some are not waiting for Washington to make changes. Florida recently passed and signed a new social media anti-censorship bill designed to stop companies like Facebook from blocking political candidates and other companies. The newly-signed bill goes into effect in July, offering an interesting future for lawsuits targeting social media.
Other states have discussed similar legislation, though it is unclear how such bills would be implemented. What is clear is the need for social media to face a “reboot” that offers clear freedom of speech for users. The current pick-and-choose attitude of Facebook and others will continue to cause problems for those who hold conservative American values.
If Facebook doesn’t make some changes, it may suffer similar problems to Twitter. Following massive purging of accounts over two years ago, many users left the platform, with Twitter still far from recovering to it past high in users and engagements.
New outlets like Parler and Gab are working to fill the need for conservative-friendly social media outlets, and may have a future. However, these new companies don’t solve the problem of online bias against conservatives. The answer is not creating new, smaller companies, but seeking guidelines that treat everyone’s rights fairly.
Trump isn’t the only one under attack. It’s also anyone holding similar conservative values and posting them online.
Facebook and Instagram ruling is just another far left agenda. They want to control free speach. They do not believe in the USA constitution. They want to help destroy America.
BOYCOTT THE GARBAGE CAN CALLED “FACEBOOK”!
Who made Facebook the laws of FREE SPEECH? America is not CHINA! That fool doesn’t deserve anybody on his website! All I care about is people has their own OPINIONS ABOUT THINGS! Nobody give anybody the power to control people FREEDOM! SO why was America TAXPAYERS MONEY GIVEN TO HELP THIS CHINA CONTROL BUSINESS TO CONTROL OUR FREEDOM?
Go to telegraph. Forget about twitter and Facebook controlled by a new breed of Communist Nazis.
That is the biggest lies coming from Facebook board! We already know they were involved in helping Biden steal the election. Who else given Million of dollars they got from CHINA TO LIBERAL DEMOCRAT CONTROL CITY AND COUNTY? Making an accused or blaming someone WITHOUT PROVE CALL FOR A BILLION DOLLARS LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. Does this CLEGG CARE TO PROVE HIS OR HER LIES IN COURT? HOPE TRUMP TAKE THEM TO COURT! But knowing our court system FAILURE THE PEOPLE DURING THE ELECT! Oh, yes that can be a SLANDER LAWSUIT! TRUMP DIDN’T CAUSE THE JANUARY 6TH RIOT! BETTER TRY AGAIN! THAT FALLS ON THE HOUSE SPEAKER PELOSI! SHE REFUSE HIS ASKING FOR 10 THOUSAND NATIONAL GUARD! SHE WAS THE ONE WHO PAY TO BUS IN THE ANTIFA AND BLM CROWDS! To make it look like Trump “Did Something ” right Omar?
Considering that Mark Zuckerberg heavily financed the Biden Campaign, why are we surprised? We have totally dumped Facebook and will NEVER return.
Fuck Facebook. Didn’t like the idea of this whole social media thing regardless. And zuckerberg hinks he’s some kind of diety… seriously, he’s a piece of shit!
Facebook has a very short grim future. Once Trump is back in the White House he will get his broom out again and finish cleaning out all the dead and dyeing weeds that have cluttered up our NORMAL society.
I agree with you. Well said.
Yet the LYING two-faced HYPOCRITICAL COMMUNISTS at Facebook and Twitter still happily allow any number of HATE FILLED accounts like BLM, Antifa and a variety of pro-Muslims to spew hate and destruction 24/7/365.
So please explain, Liars and Hypocrites at Facebook why all of a sudden you’re so-o-o concerned about
“public safety”.
Witness the entire Communist Left in the United States, especially the SCUM in Federal government. They turn thousands of convicted felons, muggers, robbers, rapists and worse loose in the streets because of their MANUFACTURED disease then open the borders to millions of unchecked drug gang-bangers, and criminals of all kinds.
Then the self-righteous COMMUNISTS at Facebook ban Trump because of what their own favored BLM/Antifa heroes did on January 6, 2021.
And guess what? Our sworn, well paid “brave defenders” and the COWARDLY GOP stand aside applauding!
With leadership like that – SOLD-OUT LIARS AND COWARDS – this country is doomed. And DESERVEDLY SO!
I hope that Fascist Book will not be around in 2023 or if so, highly regulated and no longer censoring free speech.
I think that Facebook should be brought to trial and be held accountable for thiervactions,Mr. Trump did not cause the January 6 disruption, try putting Polisi the hater that caused all these problems,her scared ass is root of all that happen,her and her hatred for Trump.
F*** the rags facebook and twitter — there are many other sites that can be used. Anyone who still uses either is part of the problem in this country. Get off of them and make them go belly-up. Everyone breathing today can survive without hearing about your trip to the store,how cute your kid or dog is,the foolish pictures of sunsets that have been seen a million times. If your life is so boring that you need these rag sites — better rethink your life.
i dumped facebook yr,s ago an never regretted it and now this, it is all the more reason to get rid of them
It is a sad day when a major form of communication starts pointing their finger of blame on only one person.
Where is their censorship of Maxine Waters, who tried to add to the riots in Minnesota asking people to shot the police. There are many others but to censor one person you do not like but hiding under freedom of speech and being God!!!!!
Facebook is an arm of the Communist in China. They hate America and its Constitution & Bill of Rights.
This is where we’re at today in time Big Tech is judge and jury!
Here’s a new claim from the left. If we’re flying a United States Flag
And Trump flags, drivein pickup trucks we’re Racist!!
Did I spell everything correctly?
God forbid if we misspelled something, someone’s sure to call you out on it. We’re further gone than I thought.
I guess that This day in time humanity is not allowed to make Mistakes no matter you’re race.
I just hope I am around when Mark get’s what is coming to him. He think’s all his money will help him you are still white dumb ass it don’t change your skin COLOR you perker head
Facebook disconnects various people or they will delete a posting they do not like.
YET Schummer and the BLM organizer are allowed to advertise during the watching of videos. If they can advertise why then do I have my comments deleted?
Oh right, I am not paying advertising costs!! nor am I a communist.
I WILL NEVER BE A MEMBER OF FACEBOOK!!!!!!! All members should leave Facebook!!!!!
FB’s “suspension” of DJT is a clear case of attempting to influence an election, bordering on election tampering, based on the size of if its “membership”. There ought to be a law, or is there already one?