The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Repro Uncensored coalition have launched the #StopCensoringAbortion campaign to address growing concerns about the censorship of reproductive health and abortion information on social media platforms. The initiative aims to ensure that individuals seeking this information can access and share it freely.
According to EFF Legislative Activist Rindala Alajaji, "This censorship is alarming, and we’re seeing it take place across popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, where abortion-related content is often flagged or removed under vague ‘community guideline’ violations, despite the content being legal and factual." Alajaji highlighted that this lack of transparency contributes to a broader culture of online censorship, which could restrict public access to crucial healthcare information.
The campaign will initially gather stories from those who have experienced censorship on these platforms. This data will be used to illustrate how frequently such incidents occur, identify affected parties, and understand the implications. EFF plans to use this information to advocate for an end to censorship and demand greater transparency from tech companies regarding their practices.
Alajaji stated, "We are not simply raising awareness—we are taking action to hold tech companies accountable for their role in censoring free speech around reproductive health. The stories we collect will be instrumental in presenting to the platforms the breadth of this problem, drawing a picture of its impact, and demanding more transparent policies."
In addition to collecting reports of online abortion censorship through a dedicated portal, the campaign's website offers links to related reporting and research. It also provides digital privacy and security guides tailored for abortion activists, medical personnel, and patients.
With reproductive rights facing challenges in many parts of the world, accurate abortion information remains vital. Online platforms have become essential resources for sharing important guidance on topics such as current abortion laws or locating clinics. However, a recent trend has made accessing this information increasingly difficult: social media platforms have been removing or censoring abortion-related content without clear explanations or policy grounds.
A notable incident occurred last month when Instagram posts by Aid Access were either blurred out or blocked entirely from loading. This raised concerns about how Meta's recent changes in content moderation policies might impact access to reproductive health information.
For more details on the campaign: https://www.eff.org/pages/stop-censoring-abortion
