Trump ban ruling marks defining moment for Facebook panel

The independent oversight board created by Facebook was set to decide on whether to affirm the former US leader's ban from the platform for inciting violence

Donald Trump is seen addressing supporters flooding the nation's capital ahead of the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6

Facebook's independent oversight board was gearing up Tuesday for a momentous decision on the platform's ban of former US president Donald Trump, as debate swirls on the role of social media in curbing hateful and abusive speech while enabling political discourse.

The oversight panel, comprised of jurists, policy experts, journalists and others from around the world, will be making perhaps its most significant decision at a time when social platforms are struggling to remain open to political discourse while filtering out incitements to violence, misinformation and abusive comments.