FB Suspends Trump for Two More Years

By Staff, Agencies

Facebook Inc. on Friday suspended former US President Donald Trump from its platform until at least January 2023.

According to Facebook, Trump deserved the maximum punishment for violating platform rules over an attack by his supporters on the US Capitol.

The social media giant's independent oversight board in May upheld its block on Trump, which was enforced in the wake of the January 6 riot over concerns that his posts were inciting violence.

However, the board ruled it was wrong to make the ban indefinite and gave it six months to determine a "proportionate response."

"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 vice president of global affairs Nick Clegg said in a post.

Trump's suspension in January was the first time Facebook had blocked a sitting president, prime minister or head of state.

At the end of Trump's two-year ban, Facebook will enlist experts to assess whether his activity at the social network still "threatens public safety."