Dozens of medical tattooists who ink nipples on cancer survivors have dressed as giant breasts outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London today in protest over the social media giant’s algorithm censoring their posts for being ‘too sexual’.
The group of medical artists and cancer survivors gathered outside the headquarters in Rathbone Square, near Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road, wearing giant inflatable breasts.
Images of their work are being restricted by algorithms because they are being wrongly sexualised, they claim. The organisers also claim censorship of social media posts by medical tattooists prevents breast cancer survivors from learning about treatments.
The World Medical Artists, which organised the campaign, said: ‘The frustration lies with artists being unable to show the world how incredible you can look after breast cancer.
‘These important images are deemed to be pornographic and are subsequently removed and accounts blocked by social media platforms. Breast cancer patients do not know that there is an army of artists on their doorstep!
Protesters wearing inflatable breasts stand outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London
Vicky Martin and other protesters outside Facebook HQ, Rathbone Square
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts react near police officers as they protest outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London
Protesters wearing inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook headquarters about the social media giant’s images algorithm in London
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London
Images of their work are being restricted by social media algorithms because they are being wrongly sexualised, they claim
‘We want to use these images to show others breast cancer patients that we are out there.’
Vicky Martin, 47, is one of the leaders of the campaign who attended the protest. She has been tattooing nipples for 15 years and said her social media profiles have been restricted when she posts her work.
She said: ‘We are doing what we need to do to stand out – and if that’s jumping around in giant inflatable boobs then so be it. But people don’t realise why this is so important – people like us are out there and we need breast cancer survivors to know that.
Some never even realise realistic nipple tattooing is available to them and miss out.’
Ms Martin, who runs Vicky Martin Method in Wokingham, Berkshire, added: ‘It sounds small, but I see my work as giving cancer survivors their medals for what they have been through and its important they see it.
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‘There are so many of us out there who can and want to make people feel complete again following their cancer journey. Think of it this way – you’d never go and get a normal tattoo without having seen the tattoo artist’s previous work.’
Facebook says it restricts the display of nudity or sexual activity because some people may be ‘sensitive’ to this type of content.
Restrictions on the display of sexual activity also apply to digitally created content unless it is posted for educational, humorous or satirical purposes.
On its website, Facebook says its Nudity Policies have become ‘more nuanced over time’.
They say: ‘We understand that nudity can be shared for a variety of reasons, including as a form of protest, to raise awareness about a cause or for educational or medical reasons. Where such intent is clear, we make allowances for the content.
‘For example, while we restrict some images of female breasts that include the nipple, we allow other images, including those depicting acts of protest, women actively engaged in breastfeeding and photos of post-mastectomy scarring.’
Gemma Bowers, a nipple tattoo artist, told the Isle of Wight County Press: ‘We’re hoping if the campaign works, Facebook will stop banning these images and we can post without worrying our pages will be shut down, which blocks our whole business from not only posting but even replying to our customers’ messages.
‘The NHS do tattoos but they are not artists, and people want choice. It gives them their dignity back to look ‘normal’ again.’
It is understood Facebook has reviewed all the accounts that World Medical Artists have provided so far and restored all the content that was removed ‘by mistake’.
Protesters outside Facebook HQ in Rathbone Square in a bid to stop the website’s algorithm censoring their work
Protesters wearing inflatable breasts stand outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London, to complain about the social media giant’s images algorithm
Protesters wearing inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook headquarters about the social media giant’s images algorithm in London
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London
Protesters wearing inflatable breasts stand outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London, to complain about the social media giant’s images algorithm
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook’s headquarters in central London
Facebook has also spoken with Ms Martin to discuss their policies, how the review systems work, the steps they’ve taken recently to help ‘reduce mistakes on this content – as well as the challenges involved’.
A Facebook spokeswoman told MailOnline: ‘Images showing post-mastectomy scarring and areola tattoos are absolutely allowed on Facebook and Instagram.
‘We applaud the incredible work medical tattooists do for breast cancer survivors, and know our apps play an important role in helping these communities connect.
‘By design, these tattoos often look extremely realistic, which means our technology – and even our content reviewers – don’t always spot the difference, so we do encourage people to make it clear when they’re posting an image that’s a tattoo.
‘We understand how frustrating this can be. We’ve been working closely with World Medical Artists and are grateful for their input as we continue to explore new ways to avoid this content being mistakenly removed.’
As the campaign continues, Ms Martin said this won’t be the last Facebook hears of the group.
She explained: ‘We’re coming to show how passionate and determined we are to show breast cancer survivors how incredible they can look. We won’t stop until we see change.’
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