The nipple ban is vibrating on Facebook and Instagram

Nipples or no nipples, that has long been the question for Meta. If they belong to a man, no discussion is necessary. Male nipples are allowed. But if they belong to a woman, a trans person or a non-binary person, then not only the heads of the Facebook and Instagram parent company smoke, but also the artificial intelligence.

In 2022, one of those AIs deleted an Insta post of a couple who were topless but with covered nipples. The two trans and non-binary individuals wanted to point out an upcoming breast reduction. A year earlier, a similar post of the two was deleted. In 2021, the well-known trans model Jude Guaitamacchi also appeared topless. This photo was also not tolerated on Instagram. The reason given was that it was against the guidelines. An almost identical photo of Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine, meanwhile, was waved through.

Meta, or Facebook and Instagram, should stop this kind of discrimination. The group’s “Oversight Board” decided on January 17. This body is a kind of independent supreme court for content moderation. It was created by Mark Zuckerberg in 2018 after a visit from a Harvard professor. Based on precedents, it clarifies how Facebook and Instagram should handle sensitive content. This is how the Oversight Board also handled the interim blocking of Donald Trump on Facebook – and confirmed the initial procedure. The members are established names in politics, the legal profession and journalism. Among the three co-chairs is former Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt.

In a January 17 letter, the Oversight Board condemned Facebook’s conduct in the two cases of trans and non-binary people: “The approach is based on a binary view of gender and a distinction between male and female bodies. The limitations and Exceptions for female nipples are extensive and confusing, and this approach creates ambiguity about how the rules apply to intersex, non-binary and trans people.”

As a guideline for the two social media platforms, the Oversight Board recommends changing the rules regarding nudity so that “all people are treated according to the same human rights standards – without discrimination based on sex or gender”. Simply put: the postal ban on female and other nipples is shaking.

In an initial statement, Facebook responded positively to the Supervisory Board’s ruling. A field of difficulties opens up for the two social media platforms, which rely heavily on artificial intelligence in assessing sensitive content. For years they have tried – with more or less success – not to drift too far into the shabby corner. A more permissive nipple rule would undermine the foundation of these efforts.

(together)