Facebook Bans Breast Cancer Nonprofit's Fundraising Ad Campaign for Violating Nudity Guidelines, Criticised on Social Media

Facebook has come under the fire for banning an Australian breast cancer nonprofit's ad campaign for violating its nudity rules. Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) said they are "deeply disappointed" by Facebook's decision to ban images featuring topless survivors from its latest campaign with Australian bakery chain Bakers Delight. The ad shows breast cancer survivors posing with baked products to cover their breasts. Some of them can be proudly showing off their mastectomy scars. The slogans on the ads read 'Breast cancer comes in all shapes and sizes' and 'Every fun bun counts'. Is Instagram Homophobic? Photo-Sharing App Removes Pic of Two Men Kissing, Apologises Later.

Although Facebook's community standards let users share photos of post-mastectomy scarring, its advertiser guidelines strictly prohibit "excessive visible skin or cleavage, even if not explicitly sexual in nature." BCNA said that the ads were designed to show "the reality of a breast cancer diagnosis". They added that the survivors volunteered to share their stories to "raise awareness of the importance of support and highlight the far-reaching effects of breast cancer." Reportedly, 100% of the proceeds for sales of the bakery's "Pink Fun Buns" will go to the nonprofit. They had raised $1.6 million last year. Facebook Nudity Ban: Site Apologises For Removing Holocaust Picture of Naked Starving Children Posted by Anne Frank Center.

The campaign is also centred around "breast friends", those who willingly support people going through a cancer diagnosis.  BCNA wrote in a statement said, "Each survivor holds a different shaped bun or roll over their breasts to highlight that support comes in all shapes and sizes."

Here is Breast Cancer Network Australia's ad:

CBS quoted BCNA CEO Kirsten Pilatti as saying, "When you find out you have breast cancer, your whole world is turned upside down and your support network becomes really important to you. Many people have told us they were surprised and moved by the people who stepped up and provided real support. Those people who are really there for you become your 'breasties'." Breast Cancer Could Spread to Bone If Exposed to Dim Night-Light.

However, Facebook said that the campaign did not address breast cancer but was rather branded content. Antonia Sanda, Head of Communications at Facebook ANZ was quoted as saying, "I love these ads and our team has been working hard with Bakers Delight to allow them to run on our platforms. We recognize the importance of ads about breast cancer education or teaching women how to examine their breasts and we allow these on our platforms." 30 Models with Metastatic Breast Cancer Walk the Ramp in Lingerie at New York Fashion Week 2019 (View Pics and Video)

Facebook has been criticised similarly in the past for its censorship of posts containing breasts. In 2014, they removed a photo of a mother breastfeeding after it was reported for "nudity". In another incident, Facebook had apologized for taking down a photo of a cancer patient's nipple which she had posted to raise awareness about symptoms. In 2015, Instagram, owned by Facebook had deleted a photo of a postmastectomy tattoo account, however, restored it after criticisms. Breast Cancer Can be Caused Due to Lifestyle Habits.

Antonia added saying, "However, these specific ads do not contain any of these messages, rather it is a brand selling a product. We have been working with the advertiser for a number of weeks to advise them how we can run these ads and are disappointed that they have not taken our guidance." However, Pilatti said BCNA will continue to share the photos on Facebook and hopes that social media giant will consider reversing its "unexpected and disappointing" decision.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2019 10:50 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).