5 questions posed by Fb’s two-year ban on Donald Trump

Fb formally launched this coverage in late 2016, after censoring an iconic photograph from the Vietnam Struggle as a result of it contained nudity. Nonetheless, the newsworthiness exception advanced right into a blanket exception for politicians, together with Trump, which allowed rule-breaking content material to remain on-line as a result of it was thought of within the public curiosity by default. However whereas this announcement seems to finish that blanket safety, it doesn’t do away with it fully, and it doesn’t deal with in any extra element how Fb will decide whether or not one thing falls below the exception. 

Who made this choice?

The announcement was authored by Nick Clegg, the corporate’s vice chairman of world affairs, however refers all through to “we.” Nonetheless, it doesn’t specify who at Fb was concerned within the decision-making course of—which is essential for transparency and credibility, given the controversial nature of the choice. 

“We all know right now’s choice might be criticized by many individuals on opposing sides of the political divide—however our job is to decide in as proportionate, truthful, and clear a method as attainable,” Clegg wrote. 

The place will Fb get recommendation?

The announcement additionally says that the corporate will look to “consultants” to “assess whether or not the danger to public security has receded,” with out specifying which consultants these might be, what experience they may deliver, or how Fb (or, once more, who at Fb) may have decision-making authority primarily based on their insights. The Oversight Board, which was meant partly as a method of outsourcing controversial selections, has already signaled that it doesn’t want to carry out that position.