Facebook and Instagram are removing posts from users offering help with access to abortion pills, which the social networking companies say violates policies around medicines. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade case on Friday, social media users shared posts expressing their willingness to mail abortion pills to those who have been denied or will be denied access to abortion.
But users found that their proposals were quickly removed or restricted. A Facebook test post by an Associated Press reporter offering to offer mail-in abortion pills was deleted within a minute of posting. A test by The Verge reporter met with similar results – a post offering an abortion pill was flagged within two minutes.
While under the same section of Meta’s Restricted Commodities Policy that prohibits pharmaceuticals, the sale, gift, and transfer of firearms and marijuana is also prohibited. But the Associated Press’s test post proposing mailing firearms and marijuana was not removed; nor was the Verge’s similar test proposing mailing marijuana immediately removed by Facebook.
In response to the reports, Meta spokesman Andy Stone tweeted on Monday: “Content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, give, request or donate medicine is not permitted.” Stone said the content contains “affordable prescription drugs.” Postings of “sexuality and availability” information are permitted, and the company is correcting instances of “incorrect execution”.
Meta did not immediately respond to questions for clarification on how the policy is enforced and what could explain the discrepancies.
In the days since the Roe case was overturned, social media has become an important tool for disseminating existing abortion resources.
But the social media company’s censorship decision has already caused some major resource providers to lose access to their platforms at a time when the need has become particularly urgent. Abortion Finder, a website that allowed patients to search for care providers, was briefly disabled on Instagram on Sunday, Meta said, citing its restricted goods policy, according to NBC News. The account has since been recovered.
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