MENO PARK (AP) -- Facebook's quasi-independent Oversight Board said Friday it will take longer than expected to decide on whether or not the suspension of former president Donald Trump should be upheld, because it needs more time to go through the deluge of public comments.
The social media giant had asked the board to make a final ruling on whether it was justified in indefinitely suspending Trump from its platforms after he incited supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol in January.
The panel's initial 90-day deadline to come up with a decision was days away.
However, "we extended the public comments deadline for this case, receiving 9,000+ responses," it said in a Twitter post. "The Board's commitment to carefully reviewing all comments has extended the case timeline, in line with the Board's bylaws. We will share more information soon."
The board said its decision would be announced "in the coming weeks," without being more specific.
Facebook set up the oversight panel to act as the ultimate referee on content decisions, amid furious criticism about its inability to respond to a tide of misinformation, hate speech and other harmful content. The board is empowered to make binding rulings on issues such as whether posts or ads violate the company's rules.
The social media giant regularly takes down thousands of posts and accounts. Since it was launched in October, the board has received some 300,000 appeals from users over content decisions, but it's prioritizing cases that have the potential to affect many users around the world. It has overturned decisions in five of the seven cases it has ruled on so far.
© Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Facebook Decision on Trump Suspension Delayed as Comments Flood In
/ CBS San Francisco
MENO PARK (AP) -- Facebook's quasi-independent Oversight Board said Friday it will take longer than expected to decide on whether or not the suspension of former president Donald Trump should be upheld, because it needs more time to go through the deluge of public comments.
The social media giant had asked the board to make a final ruling on whether it was justified in indefinitely suspending Trump from its platforms after he incited supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol in January.
The panel's initial 90-day deadline to come up with a decision was days away.
However, "we extended the public comments deadline for this case, receiving 9,000+ responses," it said in a Twitter post. "The Board's commitment to carefully reviewing all comments has extended the case timeline, in line with the Board's bylaws. We will share more information soon."
The board said its decision would be announced "in the coming weeks," without being more specific.
Facebook set up the oversight panel to act as the ultimate referee on content decisions, amid furious criticism about its inability to respond to a tide of misinformation, hate speech and other harmful content. The board is empowered to make binding rulings on issues such as whether posts or ads violate the company's rules.
The social media giant regularly takes down thousands of posts and accounts. Since it was launched in October, the board has received some 300,000 appeals from users over content decisions, but it's prioritizing cases that have the potential to affect many users around the world. It has overturned decisions in five of the seven cases it has ruled on so far.
© Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
In:
Featured Local Savings
CBS News Bay Area
Security measures heightened ahead of Trump's Presidents Cup appearance
Trump confirms he will attend golf tournament at Medinah Country Club
Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Lisa Demuth calls for end of Iran war
Trump's expected Presidents Cup visit prompts protests at Medinah Country Club
Judge delays decision on controversial Westlake data center proposal
Long Island preparing for nor'easter impacts of heavy rain, wind, flooding
Nor'easter bringing coastal flooding concerns to New York, New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut
All days of Oceans Calling Festival canceled due to impacts of nor'easter