May 6, Jared Schroeder, associate professor of Journalism specializing in Free Press/Free Speech at SMU Dallas, for an analysis of action taken by the Oversight Board regarding the status of former President Trump who is still banned from Facebook and other social media platforms. Published in The Hill: https://bit.ly/3eUrPGu
The Oversight Board upheld former President Donald Trump’ssuspension from Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday, and social media are better for it.
While much of the news cycle and often fact-averse pundits and lawmakers will focus on the board’s decision not to immediately reinstate Trump, the bigger development is the review board, which continues to mature into a body that has the power to do something no other entity can, tell a social media firm what to do.
In Trump’s case, the board upheld his suspension, but demanded Facebook reassess its decision and gave the company six months to revise and clarify its policies. In other words, the board demanded Facebook write clearer rules and follow them. No government entity could make that happen.
Continue reading “Oversight Board achieving what government cannot”