conv.

All stories
HealthQuiet 3d · day 4

Bristol tattooist says Meta algorithms wrongly censor mastectomy nipple tattoos

Medical tattoo artist Lauren Carter says her hyper-realistic areola reconstruction work is repeatedly flagged as nudity, despite Meta policy allowing it.

newest coverage 3d agosummary written 3d ago5 pieces26 likes & upvotes26 comments Google NewsMastodonNewswiresHacker News

What to know

  • Meta confirms post-mastectomy scarring and areola tattoos are allowed on Facebook and Instagram, but says its detection systems 'occasionally make mistakes' by confusing realistic tattoo work for nudity.
  • Artist Lauren Carter says her posts are removed 'nine times out of 10' and that appeals go unanswered, jeopardising her ability to reach breast cancer survivors seeking reconstruction tattoos.
  • Carter notes an apparent double standard: photos of male nipples after her treatments are not flagged, while female areola tattoos are.

Lauren Carter medical tattoo artist near BristolMeta owner of Facebook and InstagramJessica Bowler breast cancer survivor and nurse, Bristol

Bristol tattooist says Meta algorithms wrongly censor mastectomy nipple tattoos
bbc.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in one hour at Sep 20, 5 PM; 5 pieces over 4 days (2 articles · 3 posts) Sep 20, 2 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 20, 3 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 6 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 8 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 11 AM — quietSep 20, 12 PM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 2 PM — quietSep 20, 3 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — 3 pieces · 1 article · 2 posts — Hacker News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 20, 6 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 8 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 11 PM — quietSep 21, 12 AM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 2 AM — quietSep 21, 3 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 6 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 8 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 11 AM — quietSep 21, 12 PM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 2 PM — quietSep 21, 3 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 6 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 8 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 11 PM — quietSep 22, 12 AM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 2 AM — quietSep 22, 3 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 6 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 8 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 11 AM — quietSep 22, 12 PM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 2 PM — quietSep 22, 3 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 6 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 8 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 2 AM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 6 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 2 PM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 6 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quietToday, 1 AM — quiet 12
Sep 21Sep 22yesterdaynow · 2:07 AM ET
  1. 2

    Story spreads to Hacker News and social platforms

    The BBC article is submitted to Hacker News and shared across Mastodon accounts, drawing wider attention to the moderation dispute.

    “It's interesting how the photos I post of male nipples following my treatments do not get banned or reported as a sexual image.”
    — Lauren Carter, medical tattoo artist · source
  2. 1

    Survivor Jessica Bowler backs Carter's complaint

    Bristol nurse and breast cancer survivor Jessica Bowler, who had areola reconstruction tattoos after a double mastectomy, says the censorship is "really upsetting" because it stops survivors from finding and sharing information about their options.

    “[People] who've been through breast cancer should be able to share their stories and help each other without being censored.”
    — Jessica Bowler
  3. background

    Meta says medical tattoo content is allowed but 'mistakes' occur — A Meta spokesperson confirms post-mastectomy scarring and areola tattoos are permitted on Facebook and Instagram, attributes removals to system errors, and says the company continues working on improving how it identifies medical content.

  4. background

    BBC reports Carter's frustration with social media censorship — BBC Bristol publishes an article in which medical tattoo artist Lauren Carter describes the repeated removal of her mastectomy tattoo images by Meta's automated systems as "wholly unfair and discriminatory".