Facebook's nudity policy laid bare

[Davin]

The Frenchman who sued Facebook for censoring an erotic painting exemplifies our narcissistic age. But it's very hard to decide what is art and what is porn


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technolog...laid-bare.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/t...-site-forever/

[richinoregon]

The Telegraph article is surprising well balanced. We really can't demand that they allow us to post our naturist pictures on their property, anymore that we can demand the local malls let us post our pictures there. Private property is private property. If we really want to post our pictures without people pulling them down we need to purchase our own web space. I wonder what is their policy about linking to another site which has nudity? I don't do Facebook myself, it would be just another thing that I have to maintain.

[usuallylurk]

If we really want to post our pictures without people pulling them down we need to purchase our own web space.

That's why there are sites like clothesfreeforum.com.

[natureboy1776]

... We really can't demand that they allow us to post our naturist pictures on their property, anymore that we can demand the local malls let us post our pictures there. Private property is private property....

Although this is technically true, FB wants to be THE way of communicating online. FB is not just a blog that people can comment on. That would be more like your analogy. If FB wants to be the "pipe" they should not try to be the "filter" too.

[Bob S.]

natureboy: "FB wants to be THE way of communicating online."

They may want to be, but they aren't. They aren't the pipe, they are just a collection of servers. It would be more like the mall analogy where malls can decide which types of stores most reflect the identity of what they want to be and that inappropriate advertising or merchandise isn't allowed.

The problem FB has had is trying to figure out how to apply the rules. What is inappropriate nudity? What defines what art is? What about breastfeeding mothers?

According to Facebook's Community Standards (found under respectful behavior):

Nudity

People sometimes share content containing nudity for reasons like awareness campaigns or artistic projects. We restrict the display of nudity because some audiences within our global community may be sensitive to this type of content - particularly because of their cultural background or age. In order to treat people fairly and respond to reports quickly, it is essential that we have policies in place that our global teams can apply uniformly and easily when reviewing content. As a result, our policies can sometimes be more blunt than we would like and restrict content shared for legitimate purposes. We are always working to get better at evaluating this content and enforcing our standards.

We remove photographs of people displaying genitals or focusing in on fully exposed buttocks. We also restrict some images of female breasts if they include the nipple, but we always allow photos of women actively engaged in breastfeeding or showing breasts with post-mastectomy scarring. We also allow photographs of paintings, sculptures, and other art that depicts nude figures. Restrictions on the display of both nudity and sexual activity also apply to digitally created content unless the content is posted for educational, humorous, or satirical purposes. Explicit images of sexual intercourse are prohibited. Descriptions of sexual acts that go into vivid detail may also be removed.

Bob S.

[usuallylurk]

Although this is technically true, FB wants to be THE way of communicating online. FB is not just a blog that people can comment on. That would be more like your analogy. If FB wants to be the "pipe" they should not try to be the "filter" too.

Yeah but there's a big difference - Facebook owns the pipe. They can filter it they way they (and their stockholders) see fit.

[jasenj]

Yeah but there's a big difference - Facebook owns the pipe. They can filter it they way they (and their stockholders) see fit.

No, Time Warner, Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, and other cable providers and ISPs own the pipes. The mall & store analogy might be more along the lines of Facebook is a big department store in the mall & they can choose what they want to sell. The ISPs own the common areas that customers use to get from store to store.

Facebook's problem in this area is that they are trying to police a global audience with regional sensibilities. In Europe, I suspect topless & nude vacation photos are not uncommon - even of children & adolescents. Does Facebook apply different rules to their European customers? I'd rather see a French family sue Facebook for removal of family photos that are perfectly culturally acceptable.

Why doesn't some enterprising person create a Facebook like site hosted in a country with much more "lax" morals than the USA? Maybe they do exist but I'm unaware because I don't speak those languages.

- Jasen.

[sunnysmile_fl]

...Why doesn't some enterprising person create a Facebook like site hosted in a country with much more "lax" morals than the USA? Maybe they do exist but I'm unaware because I don't speak those languages.

- Jasen.

You're on the right track, Jasenj.And instead of 'why doesn't some enterprising person create...' it could be 'Why don't WE get together and create a FB-like site that would be without the moral hangups that FB seems to suffer? There is no doubt many people, especially in the Naturist and Nudist communities who would whole-heartedly support such a site and there would even be advertiser support for the site as no doubt quite a few companies and corporations would show interest in advertising on the site.'

[Guest]

Regarding the "pipes" to be picky, Facebook owns the servers it uses to provide a free location where people can share info/ideas so they have every right to set whatever standards they choose for content.

Regarding other places....there are countless sites you can go to to see whatever you want. If you are looking for honest discussion on nude friendly activities I would suggest Clothesfree Forum. 😎

Just poking my two cents in here...