Former President Donald Trump won’t return to Facebook — for now.
The social network’s quasi-independent Oversight Board voted to uphold his ban from the platform after his account was suspended four months ago for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
While upholding the suspension, the board faulted Facebook in a statement for how it made the decision.
The board said the ongoing risk of serious violence justified Facebook’s suspension at the time but said it “was not appropriate for Facebook to impose an ‘indefinite suspension.”
The board said Facebook was seeking to avoid its responsibilities by applying “a vague, standardless penalty” and then referring the case to the board to resolve.
“Indefinite penalties of this sort do not pass the international smell test,” oversight board co-chair Michael McConnell said in a conference call with reporters. “We are not cops, reigning over the realm of social media.”
The board agreed with Facebook that two of Trump’s Jan. 6 posts “severely violated” the content standards of Facebook and Instagram.