Meta is under fire for removing and restricting posts from abortion pill providers, attributing the issue to "over-enforcement" while promising to ease speech restrictions on its platforms.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, social media platforms have faced increased scrutiny over their handling of reproductive health content, particularly posts related to abortion pills.
Meta, under CEO Mark Zuckerberg, recently announced plans to loosen its speech restrictions, raising concerns about misinformation but also sparking hopes for more open dialogue on controversial topics, the New York Times reported.
Despite this, reproductive health advocates have reported a surge in content moderation targeting their posts, with Meta citing its policy against the sale of pharmaceutical drugs without certification.
Over the past two weeks, Meta has blurred, blocked, or removed posts from prominent abortion pill providers like Aid Access, Women Help Women, and Just the Pill.
"We've been quite clear in recent weeks that we want to allow more speech and reduce enforcement mistakes," Meta said.
Some accounts were suspended or made invisible in search results, often labeled as violating Meta's standards on "guns, drugs, and other restricted goods."
Although Meta restored some accounts and posts following media inquiries, the actions disrupted these providers' ability to share critical health information.
Providers argue these measures actively suppress access to vital reproductive healthcare resources, particularly in states with strict abortion laws.
Meta claims that the incidents stemmed from enforcement errors and has vowed to reduce mistakes in its moderation process.
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