Facebook Takes Aim At 'Revenge Porn' and Reveals Rulebook on Sex, Violence and Terrorism

Facebook has disabled more than 14,000 user accounts due to violations of their Community Standards in the month of January alone. 

According to The Guardian website, which has obtained more than 100 leaked internal Facebook documents, the accounts were shutdown specifically for engaging in “sextortion” and “revenge porn”.  

Sextortion is when someone in possession of compromising video or images essentially blackmails the person appearing in said images into sending them money and/or additional explicit content in exchange for them not making the images public.  

Revenge porn, according to an internal Facebook ‘cheat sheet’, intended to help moderators in deciding what to block, is defined as: “nude / near nude image + private setting + vengeful context, or lack of consent…”

Put more simply, it is when evidence of past bad decisions are thrust into the spotlight because your emotionally stunted ex can’t deal. Imagine that lower back tattoo you got seven years ago working its way up and slapping you upside the head when you least expect it. Same concept.

Facebook is trying to walk the fine line between free-speech and censorship, and has acknowledged that it is a complex issue. The platform has come under fire recently for hosting live videos showing various killings, with voices coming out both for and against allowing these images to remain on display. 

The so-called Facebook Files are a fascinating read for anyone interested in learning more about how Facebook is grappling with the task of moderating issues such as racism, violence, hate speech, terrorism, porn, and self-harm.  

In the meantime, go delete those pics off of your SO’s phone before things go south between the two of you.