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Facebook removing some posts offering abortion pills

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Following the Supreme Court’s decision to strip away constitutional protections for abortion, the platform is temporarily banning users who share status updates explaining how to legally obtain abortion pills in the mail.

After months of speculation, the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe V Wade, the integral ruling from 1973 that gave women the constitutional right to have an abortion up to 24 weeks.

Though the decision was not a surprise when it came on Friday – even before the dramatic leak of Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion it was widely expected (and long dreaded) – it still sent shockwaves across the globe.

Ever since, civilians, activists, celebrities, and political figures have been openly expressing their heartbreak, anger, and disbelief on social media.

And alongside this inevitable outpouring of emotion online, some have quickly begun using their platforms to spread awareness about how to circumvent the system.

They’ve been doing so through memes and status updates explaining how women can legally obtain abortion pills in the mail, sometimes offering to send the prescriptions themselves to those living in states where the procedure is now forbidden.

Women protest showing signs saying abortion pills and abortion is essential

One is mifepristone which halts the progesterone production that’s needed for a pregnancy to grow, and the other causes the uterus to expel pregnancy tissue.

Both can be acquired following a consultation from prescribers who have undergone certification and training.

The FDA authorises their use for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, and the US government lifted a ban on mail-order abortion pills in April last year.

Just as promptly as the offers to help, however, Facebook has been removing such posts and temporarily banning all users who share them.

This is according to the Associated Press, which found the site to be immediately taking down anything aiming to provide more clarity around abortion access.

β€˜I posted it at 11 a.m. and was notified within a minute that it was removed,’ said someone AP interviewed for the report. β€˜I was not notified until I tried to post later that I was banned for it.’

To corroborate this activity, AP attempted to upload β€˜abortion pills can be mailed’ onto Facebook using a burner account.

After being flagged seconds later for violating community guidelines (specifically rules against buying, selling, or exchanging drugs) AP was given the option to agree or disagree. Upon choosing the latter, the post disappeared, and the account was suspended for 24 hours.

Yet posts replacing the words β€˜abortion pills’ with β€˜a gun’ and then β€˜weed’ faced no issue whatsoever.

That’s despite Meta’s supposed policy against the sales of weapons, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals through its platforms.

β€˜To encourage safety and compliance with common legal restrictions, we prohibit attempts by individuals, manufacturers and retailers to purchase, sell or trade non-medical drugs, pharmaceutical drugs and marijuana,’ it reads.

The New York TimesΒ also recently reported that Meta told employeesΒ not to discuss the Supreme Court ruling within the workplace and that moderators would reportedly swoop in and quickly remove posts about abortion in the company’s internal chat platform.

On the back of this, digital rights advocates and abortion campaigners have warned women everywhere to take action to protect their privacy online.

β€˜Those seeking, offering, or facilitating abortion access must now assume that any data they provide online or offline could be sought by law enforcement,’ says Cindy Cohn of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

β€˜This could be through apps, search engine requests, posts on social media. People should carefully review privacy settings on the services they use, turn off location services on apps that don’t need them, and use encrypted messaging services.’

Feature Media Manager & Senior Writer London, UK

Sofia (She/Her) – I’m the Deputy Editor & Media Partnership Manager at Thred, specialising in exclusive articles and live interviews, fashion and beauty with a focus on sustainability, women’s rights, psychedelics, and Latin America. I studied Spanish at the University of Exeter and International Journalism at City, London. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

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