Ruling on Trump ban marks defining moment for Facebook panel

The independent oversight board created by Facebook will 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, 2021

Facebook's independent oversight board rules Wednesday on the platform's ban of former US president Donald Trump in a case that could set a precedent for how social media handles harmful content from world leaders.

Some analysts said Facebook and other social networks should have acted on Trump sooner, after years of giving him an exemption from rules on hateful content because of his "newsworthiness" as a political leader.