Instagram and FB Apoligized for Flagging EndSARS Content
The Claim
Facebook and Instagram are censoring posts related to protests in Nigeria.
News posted on
Emerging story
Amid protests in Nigeria, social media users accused Facebook of censoring End SARS content. Users claimed that social media platforms are a tool for the government. Naomi Campbell shared a screen capture of her censored Facebook post, along with an all-caps condemnation of the social media giant's initial decision to "block" an image in the post by marking it as containing "false information."
Activists raged Facebook and Instagram for censoring #EndSARS content.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found the circulating claim misleading. Instagram apologized for flagging #EndSARS posts. It justified its algorithm incorrectly flagged posts in support of #EndSARS, Nigeria's anti-police brutality movement, as false information.
A Facebook company spokesperson told Euronews, “We are aware that Facebook's automated systems were incorrectly flagging content in support of #EndSARS, and for this, we are deeply sorry."
"This issue has since been resolved, and we apologize for letting down our community in such a time of need.”
American celebrities like Demi Lovato, Yara Shahidi, and Rihanna, have also supported the #EndSARS movement, using social media to highlight the plight of the protestors. The hashtag #EndSARS has been trending across the globe over the past few weeks with mounting international support for the demonstrators.
In Nigeria, the protests continue.
