This picture and all the comments below it were removed because of a complaint
I took this picture in the alley behind the Armed Forces Recruiters in East Lansing on Monday. I posted it on Facebook today with a comment about how this is your tax dollars at work – a tricked-out SUV used to lure young men into killing and being killed. Lefty bloviating at its best. It spawned a lively discussion, and I was about to chime in again, when a phone call distracted me.
When I returned to Facebook at few minutes later, I was redirected to a page that featured my picture with a note that it had been pulled – along with all comments – because someone had complained that it violated Facebook’s community standards. The notice was silent on what made the image offensive and which standard it ostensibly violated. Apparently, Facebook agreed with the unnamed complainant because they pulled the photo without giving me a chance to ask why – and without giving me a link to complain about their actions.
Huh? Offensive? Indeed, I have tried and failed to find a place on the FB site that explains their procedures on removing supposedly offending material and how you can appeal their actions.
I have since posted a status update about the incident. A friend noted that military folks reportedly troll Facebook and complain about anything they don’t like. Another suggested it might have been about provocative comments he made – but the FB notice exhibited the photo and made no mention of comments.
This isn’t the first time I have run afoul of corporo-cyberspace censorship. Years ago, when the KKK held a rally at the Capitol, one of my students borrowed one of my cameras and took video of the event. I edited it for him and posted it on my YouTube account. It reached more than 100,000 hits quickly, but then someone complained, and YouTube pulled it.
Of course, the KKK speech was offensive. But publishing their insanity was a valid way to apply sunlight as an appropriate disinfectant.
Again, I found it is virtually impossible to find out how to challenge YouTube’s actions, and I wasted hours to no avail.
It is worth noting that that much of our speech is now controlled by corporate media whose sole concern is their bottom line, not our silly belief in our free speech rights. To become a member of YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Pinterest, you either sign their TOS (Terms of Service) agreement, or you don’t get in – no negotiation.
You don’t like the fact that some yahoo can make a spurious complaint and your free speech rights go poof? Tough.
Unhappy that there is no easily accessed appeals process when your rights are violated? Puh-leeze. Now naive can you be that we care enough to pay a person to handle your concerns.
I know that activists are busy trying to build an alternative Internet called Byzantium, which could be activated whenever a government decides to censor certain sites or execute a kill switch. Let me know when it’s ready, and I’m there. And let me know if some budding entrepreneur decides in the meanwhile to build a Facebook-clone that doesn’t remove un-offensive comment anytime some jerk decides to make a groundless complaint. I will be among the first to sign up.
Until then, does anyone know how I can find out more about the complaint and whether I can challenge the company’s Zuckerbergian decision in some hidden Facebook-court?
Bravo, Bonnie!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you find out anything about who at Facebook made that decision? Maybe some of us should start trying to change Facebook.
It’s real simple. If you want everything you think, say and believe to be on the internet, start your own site. Quit crying because a FREE service you voluntarily signed up for did something you don’t like.
Facebook is not an entitlement. Facebook does not owe you a damn thing. Your freedom of speech has not been stifled in the least. You can say whatever (within the law, which already stifles freedom of speech) you like ON YOUR OWN SITE.
Please contact me if I need to make this clear to you.
Ron, I have created numerous sites where I can express myself. That is not the point. The frustration in our modern economy is that many enterprises that might once have been public functions are corporate entities over which consumers have no control. Facebook is a prime example of a for-profit corporation whose rules change often, with no input from consumers, simply because they can get away with it. They dominated the market so quickly that competitors had a hard time finding traction. If we had a good alternative with rules more in our favor, we might flock there, but FB has sucked all the oxygen out of that room for now. The lack of corporate accountability and transparency is a big issue.
How could you ever have mistaken Facebook for anything other than a private enterprise? Facebook has always been ‘private’ in the sense that you had to agree to the rules before you joined and you could be ‘kicked out’ if you broke them.
I say bully to the owners of Facebook for making a profit on all of us who decided to join and participate. They don’t have to listen to the consumer. The consumer does not have to listen to Facebook. If you don’t like it leave it. Simple.
I suggest starting an alternative to Facebook with rules in your favor, whatever that means, and see how many people you can get to join up. Facebook started small and grew large. Nothing says you cannot do the same thing.
Facebook is not accountable to anyone but those who own stock. Again, if you don’t like it leave it.
Forgot to say…..when you signed up for Facebook you agreed to be censored. Why complain about it now?
Ron B,
Are you serious? What planet do you live on, the planet where the powerful always get what they want, and the rest just accept whatever the powerful tell them they get? Is this some kind of science fiction wet dream fantasy you have? Because that is certainly not the course of history on this planet.
The author is voicing her objection (coherently, I might add) to arbitrary censorship on a for-profit website she patronizes. She has every right to call out MyFace, and demand change, as a consumer. If MyFace wants the reputation of secret and arbitrary actions on a regular basis, they can have it. On your planet of the feeble/pathetic masses, they can just accept whatever powerful groups tell them, and never “complain” about it. What drug is it that they feed you to make you so docile?
Fred
P.S. I’m quite certain that you must be at least as docile when it comes to passing stricter gun laws. After all, as a citizen, you’ve accepted the power of the government to rule. “Why complain about it now?”