Facebook to count journalists as involuntary public figures

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 15 October 2021

Facebook is changing its approach to better protect journalists and human rights defenders from harassment. This decision responds to ongoing scrutiny regarding its content practices.

Summary

WASHINGTON—Facebook had decided to count journalists as “involuntary” public figures with a purpose to increase protections against harassment and bullying targeted on its platform.

The social media company, which allows more critical commentary of public figures than of private individuals, is changing its approach on the harassment of journalists and “human rights defenders”, who it says are in the public eye due to their work rather than their public personas.

Facebook is under wide-ranging scrutiny from several lawmakers and regulators across the globe over its content moderation practices and harms linked to its platforms.

KEY POINTS:

• Facebook classifies journalists as involuntary public figures.
• This change aims to increase protections against online harassment.
• The policy targets bullying specifically on Facebook's platform.
• The move is in response to global scrutiny of Facebook's practices.
• It reflects a shift in how public commentary on individuals is managed.