Instagram apologises for removing photo of boy with facial deformity

Instagram has apologised for taking down a photo of a boy with a facial deformity after another user reported it to the app’s content moderation team.

 

(The Guardian). Twelve-year-old Harry Beswick was born with Goldenhar syndrome, which means he has no left eye, eye socket, nostril or left ear. His mother, Charlie, runs a parenting blog and Instagram account where she posts about parenting Harry and his twin brother Oliver.

 

Me ~ Hello Harry. Where’s your eye? Mark ~ Oh damn!! It’s still on the side at home! If it’s not one of us it’s the other!?? (Note to the person who reported the last image of my son like this. It’s his FACE. If you’re offended then scroll past. Shame on you!) – – – – – #ouralteredlife #specialneeds #specialneedschild #specialneedsparent #specialneedsparents #specialneedsjourney #disability #goldenharsyndrome #autism #autismawareness #writing #writersofinstagram #writer #ourstory #mysunshineboy #ilovemyboys #love #mylife #brothers #morealikethandifferent #mummyblogger #blogging #specialneedsblogger #diffability #craniofacial #autismlife #autismfamily

A post shared by ?Our Altered Life? (@ouralteredlife) on Sep 9, 2017 at 5:08am PDT

Beswick posted a photo to Instagram in which Harry was not wearing his prosthetic eye. According to Charlie, another Instagram user reported the image, and when Instagram’s content moderation team reviewed it, they decided it breached community guidelines. The picture was removed.

 

Someone is reporting my son’s face & #Instagram agree saying it doesn’t meet their guidelines before removing it. RT to support me in this! pic.twitter.com/XxOvthBT5O

— Charlie Beswick (@ouralteredlife) September 12, 2017

 

Beswick complained about the decision on social media, with a tweet that was shared thousands of times. In a longer Facebook post, she wrote: “What do you see when you look at my boy? I see the most beautiful smile, wonderful heart and purest love. Sadly some people on Instagram feel that it’s too much to look at and have reported a picture of him (again).”

“I’m beyond disgusted. Instagram need to rectify this discrimination!”

 

Instagram’s community guidelines ban photos deemed “inappropriate for a diverse audience” including those that depict nudity, celebrate organised crime or terrorism, or glorify self-injury. The app also bans content used to bully or harass anyone because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, disability or injury. In this case, the photo was removed for bullying, possibly because the reviewer misinterpreted the lighthearted comment that accompanied it as offensive.

Many people contacted Instagram to express outrage over the decision, and the photo was restored.

“We mistakenly removed the photo, but quickly restored it as soon as the mistake was brought to our attention,” said an Instagram spokeswoman. “We have apologised to the family.”

 

Once the photo was restored, Beswick, who lives in Stoke-on-Trent, edited the description to read: “Note to the person who reported the last image of my son like this. It’s his face. If you’re offended then scroll past. Shame on you!”

 

The Guardian UK

 

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