Facebook has decided what they deem the appropriate length of suspension for Donald Trump on their platforms; two years. They announced today that the former President can come back to FB and Instagram in January 2023 if he so chooses, but of course, there will be stipulations.
At that time they will reevaluate the risk to public safety that would come from allowing Trump back on. So, for those who are critical of how Facebook has handled the entire situation since the riots at the Capitol in January, many who believe Mark Zuckerberg’s company is making the rules up as they go will not feel much different.
Here’s part of the statement Facebook sent out Friday.
“We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest. 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.”
You don’t have to be Nostradamus to ascertain they will probably not be comfortable allowing Trump back on to the platform, and that statement gives them an easy out.
If he does get the green light to return, a strict set of escalating sanctions will be triggered if he breaks the rules.
What’s interesting about the timing of the suspension is Trump will not be able to post on Facebook prior to the 2022 U.S. mid-term elections.
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