Summary:
Facebook has been repeatedly criticised for removing photos uploaded by mothers breastfeeding their babies. The platform's policy states that it prohibits content that is “hateful, threatening, defamatory, or pornographic” or contains nudity.
Allegations:
- In 2011, a Facebook user Heather Stultz criticised the social network for removing a breastfeeding photo from a breastfeeding support page called "Respect the Breast."
- The virtual protest spilled over to the streets of Palo Alto with placards reading “Hey Facebook, Breast-feeding is not Obscene".
- The women said they were tired of people lashing out at what is natural and what they believe is healthy for their children. The Facebook page is for questions and answers regarding breastfeeding, members said.
Defence:
- Facebook said the areola, the dark skin around the nipple, violated a policy on “obscene, pornographic or sexually explicit” material.
- Facebook wrote to Stultz saying that her photo was removed as it violated the pornographic content rules made clear under the terms section on her page. After investigating the situation Facebook retracted its earlier statement and said they had made a mistake.