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.publico.pt/Tecnologia/facebook-remove-imagem-de-rebecca-gomperts-activista-do-barco-do-aborto--1527053

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.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2082230/Facebook-apologises-deleting-DIY-abortion-latest-censorship-row.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/reproductive-rights-activist-receives-apologyfacebook_644963.html

www.dbsuriname.com/archief/nat/2012/jan12/04-01-12/Nat_Ophef%20over%20abortustips%20op%20Facebook.asp

www.biobiochile.cl/2012/01/04/facebook-pide-disculpas-por-eliminar-instructivo-para-realizar-abortos-dirigido-a-chilenas.shtml

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

technologie.gazeta.pl/internet/1,104530,10913902,Facebook_przeprasza__ze_ocenzurowal_wpis_ulatwiajacy.html

www.aciprensa.com/noticia.php?n=35700

www.techtudo.com.br/noticias/noticia/2012/01/facebook-deleta-publicacao-sobre-aborto-e-se-desculpa-depois.html

www.cyberpresse.ca/international/europe/201201/07/01-4483688-facebook-censure-une-procedure-pour-avorter.php

facebook censorship