Facebook apologized after censoring abortion rights information.
In January 2012, Facebook removed the profile picture form Dr. R. Gomperts, director of Women on Waves. The profile picture contains information about how women can do abortions themselves safely with Misoprostol.
By removing the profile picture, Facebook has severely violated Article 19 of the Universal declaration of Human rights, the right to freedom of information as well as Article 10 of the European convention of human rights, the freedom of expression. Facebook has a social responsibility to guarantee and protect human rights.
Dr. Gomperts reposted the screenshot of the facebook censorship message with the picture and called upon other facebook users to repost the image, which was done by hundreds of facebook users. However this picture was removed again and Gomperts was blocked from using her facebook account for 2 days. After receiving inquiries by journalist, facebook send an email to apologize and acknowledged that the picture did not violate any facebook users regulations.
Media that covered this news:
www.rnw.nl/africa/article/facebook-removes-abortion-tips-then-restores-them
www.lifesitenews.com/news/facebook-apologizes-for-removing-self-abortion-profile-picture/
www.lifenews.com/2012/01/03/facebook-removes-restores-illegal-self-abortion-instructions/
jezebel.com/5872592/facebook-sparks-controversy-by-removing-home-abortion-instructions
www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/12/30/facebook-censors-information-on-misoprostol
www.allfacebook.com/facebook-apologizes-for-deleting-diy-abortion-posts-2012-01
www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/01/facebook-walks-back-ban-abortion-instructions/46898/
www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/facebook-censors-abortion-tips
www.rhrealitycheck.org/article/2011/12/30/facebook-censors-information-on-misoprostol
www.rnw.nl/nederlands/article/ophef-over-abortustips-op-facebook
www.rnw.nl/bahasa-indonesia/article/facebook-menghapus-foto-profil-berisi-tips-aborsi
www.rnw.nl/espanol/article/conmoción-por-consejos-sobre-aborto-en-facebook
tekno.kompas.com/read/2012/01/02/18532326/Facebook.Hapus.Foto.Profil.Pendukung.Aborsi
www.bangstyle.com/2012/01/facebook-removes-home-abortion/
mashable.com/2012/01/03/facebook-how-to-abortion-post/
www.webpronews.com/facebook-abortion-instructions-“removed-in-error”-2012-01
www.nbcbayarea.com/blogs/press-here/Facebook-Sorry-for-Removing-Home-Abortion-Posts-136619943.html
www.care2.com/causes/facebook-removes-then-replaces-abortion-tips-image.html
idgnow.uol.com.br/internet/2012/01/04/facebook-se-desculpa-por-apagar-publicacao-sobre-aborto/
www.bright.nl/abortus-instructies-mogen-op-facebook
www.refdag.nl/nieuws/binnenland/ophef_rond_abortuspil_op_facebook_1_613670
www.ivillage.com/are-diy-abortions-more-common-we-think/4-a-415735
teknologi.inilah.com/read/detail/1815051/facebook-minta-maaf-karena-hapus-tulisan-aborsi