Following the removal of posts and the subsequent banning of users responsible for abortion pill posts, Meta provided more clarification on its policy regarding the discussion of the sale of abortion drugs on Facebook.
This explanation comes after Facebook deleted posts trying to discuss the allocation of abortion pills, as reported by Motherboard.
The Big Tech giant clarified it would ban information relating to selling or sharing medications, but not details about medication abortion services.
Additionally, it was claimed by some users that access to their accounts had been momentarily restricted.
Following the decision by the Supreme Court to overrule Roe v. Wade, there has been an increase in the number of posts.
Wrong Enforcements
“It is not permissible to publish content that offers to buy, sell, trade, give away, ask for, or donate drugs. It is permissible to publish content that addresses concerns over the availability and cost of prescription drugs.”
In a tweet sent out on Monday, Meta spokesman Andy Stone said, “We’ve found several instances of erroneous enforcement, and we’re working to remedy them right now.”
In a test, the @AP found that Facebook removed a post offering to mail abortion pills within one minute. It did not remove similar posts offering to mail a gun or marijuana. https://t.co/tdUdM3bOy6
— Amanda Seitz (@AmandaSeitz) June 28, 2022
According to Facebook’s existing regulations, “attempts to buy, sell, or exchange medicinal medicines” are not permitted. This rule has one and only one possible exemption: if the seller in question operates a “licensed medical e-commerce firm.”
According to Protocol, Meta decided to adopt this strategy amid the pandemic since telemedicine was experiencing a rise in demand and has evolved.
It has been difficult for the parent business of Facebook to come to terms with the Roe v. Wade decision handed down on Friday, particularly in terms of how to manage the connections of employees with America in the post-Roe era.
The leadership of Meta announced on Friday that staff members were not permitted to discuss the abortion ruling.
They mentioned the corporation had policies that placed “powerful safeguards around social, political, and sensitive correspondence.”
New: Facebook is removing posts and temporarily banning people who say that they will mail abortion pills to those who need it, or even just state the fact they can be mailed. In 2021 the FDA made it possible and legal to send abortion pills via mail https://t.co/MPipm5jmgq
— Joseph Cox (@josephfcox) June 27, 2022
They also referred to a memo issued on May 12 and stated “trying to discuss abortion openly at work has a growing threat of establishing a confrontational work environment.”
The company kept “the stance that we would not allow open discourse.” A copy of this memo was obtained by the New York Times.
Aiding Employees
In addition, Meta is contemplating how it should proceed with assisting its employees in obtaining abortions.
Due to the “legal implications involved,” the company indicated on Friday that it is still evaluating whether or not to change its position on the issue.
Meta has stated it will compensate employees for costs incurred while traveling to another state to obtain an abortion.
“We plan to offer travel cost refunds, to the extent that the law permits us to do so, to personnel who will require them to access healthcare coverage and reproductive services located outside their home state.”
“Given the legal implications involved, we are currently analyzing to determine how best to proceed in this regard,” explained Meta spokesperson Andy Stone.
