Facebook Confirms Trump Banned From Platform Until At Least January 2023

One day after announcing that it would no longer publish politicians’ posts by default, Facebook has just confirmed that it will suspend President Trump for at least two years – meaning his suspension from the platform will last at least through the 2022 midterm – and that the former president’s access to the platform will only be reinstated if certain conditions are met.

The suspension will be backdated to the start of his suspension from the platform in January, according to Nick Clegg, Facebook’s head of global affairs, and a former British deputy prime minister.

In response to the @OversightBoard‘s ruling, Facebook is suspending Donald Trump’s accounts for 2 years, effective from the date of the initial suspension in January this year. At that time, we will assess the public safety risk and extend the restrictions if conditions require. https://t.co/23JTzX2pfx

— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) June 4, 2021

When the suspension is eventually lifted, Mr Trump’s account will be subject to new enhanced penalties if he violates our policies, up to and including permanent removal of his accounts.

— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) June 4, 2021

Clegg added that Trump’s suspension is particularly severe because “his actions constituted a severe violation of our rules which merit the highest penalty available under the new enforcement protocols we’re announcing today.”

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 we’re announcing today. pic.twitter.com/P6RF3ebvFn

— Nick Clegg (@nickclegg) June 4, 2021

After that date, Facebook will evaluate whether the “risk to public safety” of restoring Trump’s account has abated. If the suspension is then lifted, Trump will still be subject to a “strict” set of sanctions for future policy violations, the company said.

The decision comes roughly one month after Facebook’s independent oversight board upheld the company’s decision to ban Trump, arguing that “Trump’s posts during the Capitol riot severely violated Facebook’s rules and encouraged and legitimized violence.”

The Board also found Facebook violated its own rules by imposing a suspension that was ‘indefinite.’ This penalty is not described in Facebook’s content policies. It has no clear criteria and gives Facebook total discretion on when to impose or lift it.

— Oversight Board (@OversightBoard) May 5, 2021