Facebook has said that it will keep former President Donald Trump off of Facebook and Instagram at least until January 2023, when it will again re-evaluate its decision.

The social media company made the announcement on Friday, saying at that time that it may reinstate Trump accounts depending on the risk to public safety.

“We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest,” Facebook said in a statement. “If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded.”

Facebook continued by saying that if it is determined that Trump’s accounts can be reinstated, rapidly escalating sanctions will be handed down if he continues to violate the platforms’ policies, including permanent removal of his pages and accounts.

Facebook said: “ In establishing the two-year sanction for severe violations, we considered the need for it to be long enough to allow a safe period of time after the acts of incitement, to be significant enough to be a deterrent to Mr. Trump and others from committing such severe violations in future, and to be proportionate to the gravity of the violation itself. ”

Facebook suspended Trump’s accounts after the Jan. 6 Capital riots, where the former president was accused of praising rioters for their violent actions. The two-year suspension will prevent the former president from using both social media platforms until after the 2022 mid-term elections, CNBC reported.

The former president's blog -- "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump" -- was canned after being launched only a month ago
The former president's blog -- "From the Desk of Donald J. Trump" -- was canned after being launched only a month ago AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
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