Facebook Updates Policies on Online Bullying, Harassment

Facebook has announced new updates to bullying and harassment policies that will safeguard online users.

The company said in a post attributed to Head of Safety Antigone Davis that it will take down mass coordinated harassment campaigns targeted at individuals at heightened risk of offline harm.

Facebook also says it will remove objectionable content in whatever form it takes, be that direct messages, comments or posts. As part of the same policy, the company will remove state-linked networks that work together to silence and harass people.

The company said it has also put in place new protections to safeguard public figures from sexual harassment and appearance shaming by removing profiles, pages and groups dedicated to sexualizing those individuals. It will also target “severe sexualizing content,” including photoshopped images and drawings.

“We made these changes because attacks like these can weaponize a public figure’s appearance, which is unnecessary and often not related to the work these public figures represent,” the company said.

Facebook will also provide additional protections for individuals who become famous involuntarily. Those may include individuals like journalists and human rights activists.