Facebook issues new rules around bullying, racism, sex and nudity, as law-enforcement requests in Australia increase

Facebook has overhauled its community standards document, clarifying its rules on issues such as self-harm, hate speech, sex, bullying and nudity.

On nudity, Facebook will restrict explicit images of sexual intercourse, along with descriptions of sexual acts that go into “vivid detail”, along with photos of genitals, fully-exposed buttocks or female breasts where the nipple is visible. Content promoting sexual violence and exploitation is also banned.

However, Facebook said it will make exceptions for artworks and satirical materials, along with photos of breastfeeding or post-mastectomy scarring.

For hate speech, Facebook will remove content dedicated to attacking people based on race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or serious diseases. However, “humour, satire, or social commentary related to these topics” is acceptable under its rules.

Also banned on Facebook is content promoting terrorist groups, self-harm, direct threats of violence, self-injury, bullying and harassment, violent images shared for sadistic pleasure, as is having multiple accounts. Content promoting crimes against people, property or animals, along with outlawed goods and narcotics is also banned. However, ridicule of public figures, unless there’s a credible threat, is allowed.

Meanwhile, mirroring a recent Google transparency report, Facebook revealed it also had a year-on-year increase in law enforcement requests for user information. The figures show 829 requests covering 933 accounts between July and December last year, up from 603 requests for 640 accounts for the same period a year earlier, with data produced in 68.64% of cases. Three pieces of content were also restricted in Australia for violating consumer laws, while another piece was blocked over discrimination laws.