Tech companies like TikTok, Instagram, and Bing have been accused of suppressing posts and accounts related to abortion services, causing frustration and confusion among advocacy groups and women’s health advocates. For example, TikTok has suspended the account of Hey Jane, a telemedicine abortion service, multiple times without explanation. Similarly, Instagram has suspended Mayday Health, a nonprofit providing information about abortion pill access, without any clear reason. Additionally, Bing mistakenly flagged the website for Aid Access, a major online seller of abortion pills, as unsafe.
These incidents have highlighted the lack of transparency in the platforms’ moderation policies regarding abortion-related content. Advocates argue that since the Supreme Court’s decision to end the constitutional right to abortion in 2022, tech companies have become more aggressive in removing or suppressing posts that share information about safe and legal abortion procedures. Moreover, when accounts are restricted, it can be challenging to contact the companies to understand the reasons behind the actions taken.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and other pro-life organizations have also reported facing limitations on their speech, with accounts being suspended and ads being blocked without clear explanations. In response to these concerns, Amnesty International USA has called on tech giants to clearly outline and explain their rules regarding abortion-related content to ensure greater accountability for their actions.
The lack of clear guidelines from tech companies has led to a shift in how individuals and organizations discuss abortion online. Some have resorted to misspelling the term or using emojis to avoid detection and reach a wider audience. This workaround reflects the challenges faced by those trying to share information about abortion services in the face of censorship by major platforms.
Overall, the suppression of abortion-related content on social media platforms has raised important questions about freedom of speech, access to information, and the responsibilities of tech companies in moderating sensitive topics. It remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed moving forward and whether greater transparency and accountability will be achieved in the regulation of such content online.