A Facebook user had complained about images of severed heads, including this picture, censored here
One of Facebook’s safety advisers is to call on it to introduce safeguards to prevent users from stumbling upon gruesome images.
The move follows complaints about photos showing severed heads taken in a part of Syria controlled by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).
The firm initially refused to delete the images, saying they did not contravene its guidelines.
It later blocked the material after being contacted by the BBC.
Stephen Balkam, chief executive of the US’s Family Online Safety Institute (Fosi), said he planned to raise the issue next month at a meeting of the Facebook Safety Advisory Board, on which he serves.
“There may be instances in which graphic photos and videos, like the beheadings in Syria, can be justified as being in the public interest,” he told the BBC
“However, if they are hosted on Facebook or other social media platforms, there should be two barriers put in place.
“First, an interstitial, or cover page over the graphic images. With an interstitial in place, a user, particularly a child, will not have the image appear in their timeline or be easily seen if they are sent a link to the images.
“Secondly, there should be an age gate, saying that you must verify that you are 18 years of age.
Mr Balkam had previously criticised Facebook last year after it rejected calls to delete a video clip showing a woman being beheaded in Mexico.
At the time, the site did briefly place a warning over the clip, before deciding to remove it on the basis that it “glorified” violence.
Facebook’s policy is that while the sharing of graphic content for sadistic pleasure is banned, the use of distressing images that are designed to condemn violence or to highlight an important issue is permitted.
“We do sometimes see people come to Facebook to share experiences of the world around them and on occasion this may result in content that some may find upsetting,” a spokesman told the BBC.
“We expect people that want to use Facebook to condemn or report on violence, to do so in a responsible manner, which may include warning people about the nature of content in the videos and imagery they’re sharing and carefully selecting the audience for the content.
“Our goal is to strike a balance between allowing people to comment on the often brutal world around them, whilst protecting people from the most graphic of content.”
