Facebook to allow beheading videos, elbows still banned
Posted by: Jon Ben-Mayor on 10/22/2013 11:36 AM
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Facebook has shifted gears to allow the posting of videos that show beheadings as long as they are not being "celebrated," but you should beware if you post a breastfeeding mother or even an elbow that might or might not look like a nipple - the content will be removed.
The Guardian notes that in 2012, Facebook's image censorship guidelines were leaked. They revealed that the site's moderators were told to ban images of breastfeeding if the nipples were exposed, while allowing "graphic images" of animals if shown "in the context of food processing or hunting as it occurs in nature".
At the same time "deep flesh wounds" and "crushed heads/limbs" were allowed, but pictures of human bodily fluids banned if a person is visible. And semen cannot be shown anywhere.
The article in Gizmodo points out Facebook was first forced to address its decapitation policy back in May, when the Family Online Safety Institute rightfully complained about these gruesome videos being readily available to the (often exceptionally young) members of the Facebook community. While Facebook at first defended the video's right to a life online, saying that its "approach is designed to preserve people's rights to describe, depict and comment on the world in which we live," it quickly caved to pressure and instituted the ban.
Now, however, the BBC reports that a video posted last week under the title "Challenge: Anybody can watch this video?" has been deemed appropriate for Facebook by the powers that be. And they don't seem like they'll changing their mind anytime soon. After inquiring to Facebook about the gruesome video, which was believed to have been filmed in Mexico, the BBC received the following confirmation:
Facebook has long been a place where people turn to share their experiences, particularly when they're connected to controversial events on the ground, such as human rights abuses, acts of terrorism and other violent events. People are sharing this video on Facebook to condemn it. If the video were being celebrated, or the actions in it encouraged, our approach would be different.
However, since some people object to graphic video of this nature, we are working to give people additional control over the content they see. This may include warning them in advance that the image they are about to see contains graphic content.
Facebook originally pulled decapitation videos after the Family Online Safety Institute - a member of its Safety Advisory Board - complained that they "crossed a line".
The charity's leader Stephen Balkam told the BBC he was surprised by the latest development.
"I would have expected a heads-up on this," he said. (Not a great choice of words in my opinion.)
"I went to have a look at the video and there's no warning label nor is there any condemnatory context. It's just sort of up there and the first image you are presented with is a woman's head being held by a guy.
"I'm very unhappy that these have gone back up and that they have gone up without any warning. First thing tomorrow morning I intend to raise this with Facebook."
The Guardian notes that in 2012, Facebook's image censorship guidelines were leaked. They revealed that the site's moderators were told to ban images of breastfeeding if the nipples were exposed, while allowing "graphic images" of animals if shown "in the context of food processing or hunting as it occurs in nature".
At the same time "deep flesh wounds" and "crushed heads/limbs" were allowed, but pictures of human bodily fluids banned if a person is visible. And semen cannot be shown anywhere.
The article in Gizmodo points out Facebook was first forced to address its decapitation policy back in May, when the Family Online Safety Institute rightfully complained about these gruesome videos being readily available to the (often exceptionally young) members of the Facebook community. While Facebook at first defended the video's right to a life online, saying that its "approach is designed to preserve people's rights to describe, depict and comment on the world in which we live," it quickly caved to pressure and instituted the ban.
Now, however, the BBC reports that a video posted last week under the title "Challenge: Anybody can watch this video?" has been deemed appropriate for Facebook by the powers that be. And they don't seem like they'll changing their mind anytime soon. After inquiring to Facebook about the gruesome video, which was believed to have been filmed in Mexico, the BBC received the following confirmation:
Facebook has long been a place where people turn to share their experiences, particularly when they're connected to controversial events on the ground, such as human rights abuses, acts of terrorism and other violent events. People are sharing this video on Facebook to condemn it. If the video were being celebrated, or the actions in it encouraged, our approach would be different.
However, since some people object to graphic video of this nature, we are working to give people additional control over the content they see. This may include warning them in advance that the image they are about to see contains graphic content.
Facebook originally pulled decapitation videos after the Family Online Safety Institute - a member of its Safety Advisory Board - complained that they "crossed a line".
The charity's leader Stephen Balkam told the BBC he was surprised by the latest development.
"I would have expected a heads-up on this," he said. (Not a great choice of words in my opinion.)
"I went to have a look at the video and there's no warning label nor is there any condemnatory context. It's just sort of up there and the first image you are presented with is a woman's head being held by a guy.
"I'm very unhappy that these have gone back up and that they have gone up without any warning. First thing tomorrow morning I intend to raise this with Facebook."
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