October 14, 2021

Facebook will now count activists and journalists as “involuntary” public figures, increasing protection against harassment and bullying against these groups.

In recent weeks, there has been intense debate about the social media giant’s “cross-check” system, which, according to a Wall Street Journal report, exempts some high-profile users from the usual Facebook rules.

Facebook refused to share a list of other involuntary public figures but said they would be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Earlier this year, Facebook said it was removing content celebrating, praising or mocking George Floyd’s death because he was considered an involuntary public figure.

Facebook’s Global Head of Safety Antigone Davis said the tech giant is also expanding the types of attacks it would ban on public figures in an effort to reduce attacks that disproportionately affect women, people of color and the LGBTQ community.

Facebook will now prohibit severe and unwanted sexualizing content, derogatory sexualized photoshopped images or drawings, or direct negative attacks on a person’s appearance, for example in comments on a public person’s profile.

For more information, read the original story in Reuters.