Protest over breastfeeding image ban

Mothers who breastfed their babies were offered refreshments and toilet facilities by Facebook when they staged a protest outside its Dublin office yesterday.

About 30 protesters, including men, women and children, some carrying signs saying “Facebook doesn’t like us”, took part in the lunchtime protest over the removal of photographs of breastfeeding mothers from the social networking site.

The protest was organised by Friends of Breastfeeding, who claim Facebook is going against its own policy of allowing breastfeeding images.

The campaign group says Facebook has been removing photographs of breastfeeding mothers from profile pages and some accounts had been deactivated.

Friends of Breastfeeding national co-ordinator, Chris Finn, from Kilmacthomas, Co Waterford, said: “Our aim as an organisation is to support women to have the breastfeeding experience they choose. The removal of breastfeeding pictures from Facebook means that breastfeeding is not being seen as it should be — a natural way of feeding a baby.”

Facebook staff invited the women into the building for tea and coffee and made bathroom facilities available.

Protests are also taking place outside Facebook offices in the US, Canada Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada and France.

While breastfeeding images are allowed under Facebook policy, pictures may be deleted if they contain nudity, drug use or violence. Facebook said the vast majority of breastfeeding photos are compliant with their statement of rights and responsibilities and take no action on such content.

“Some photos which contain a fully exposed breast do violate our terms and may be removed if they are reported to us,” it said.

Facebook said its policies were based on the same standards that apply to television and print media.