Image by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, from Unsplash
Meta Criticized For Blocking Abortion Pill Providers On Social Media
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
Instagram and Facebook, platforms owned by Meta, recently came under fire after blocking posts and suspending accounts linked to abortion pill providers, as first reported by The New York Times .
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Providers’ accounts were suspended for violating policies on restricted goods, later restored.
- Meta cited “over-enforcement” but denied connection to its new speech policy changes.
- FDA allows abortion pill prescriptions via telehealth, but Meta’s moderation disrupts access.
Several posts were blurred or removed, while providers’ accounts were hidden from searches and recommendations. Some accounts were later reinstated, but these actions raised significant concerns about Meta’s content moderation practices, as reported by The Times.
Providers like Aid Access, Women Help Women, and Just the Pill reported that their accounts were suspended or their posts removed, with Meta citing violations of its policies on restricted goods such as drugs and firearms, said The Times.
Aid Access stated it had been unable to access its Facebook account since November 2024, and its Instagram account was only recently restored. Meanwhile, Hey Jane, another provider, reported being invisible in Instagram search results—a pattern it has faced before, as reported by The Times.
Meta acknowledged these incidents, labeling them as “over-enforcement.” A company spokesperson attributed the actions to rules requiring certification for the sale of pharmaceutical drugs, emphasizing that the moderation was unrelated to Meta’s recent policy shift toward looser speech restrictions, as reported by The Times.
The controversy follows Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of sweeping changes to the company’s speech policies. While the changes were framed as a move to allow greater expression, experts worry they could lead to inconsistent enforcement and the silencing of critical voices.
These latest incidents involving abortion pill providers suggest Meta may still struggle to balance its policies with the realities of content moderation. The Times reports that advocates for reproductive rights are particularly alarmed by Meta’s actions, viewing them as part of a broader pattern since the 2022 overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Lisa Femia, an attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, described the suppression of reproductive health content as a growing issue, posing risks to those seeking vital healthcare information online, as reported by The Times.
Despite these challenges, abortion pill providers continue operating in states where abortion remains legal. Telehealth services can prescribe FDA-approved medications like mifepristone and misoprostol and mail them under protective “shield laws,” noted The Times.
However, Meta’s enforcement actions highlight the obstacles providers face in reaching those in need of timely healthcare information. The incident underscores ongoing questions about Meta’s content policies and its commitment to fostering open dialogue, particularly in sensitive areas like reproductive health.
Image by Marques Thomas, from Unsplash
PayPal Fined $2M Over Cybersecurity Breach Exposing Customer Data
- Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
- Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor
PayPal has been fined $2 million by New York’s Department of Financial Services (DFS) for cybersecurity lapses that resulted in the exposure of customers’ Social Security numbers in late 2022, as first reported by Reuters .
In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!
- Cybercriminals exploited PayPal using “credential stuffing” to access sensitive customer data.
- PayPal failed to implement multifactor authentication and CAPTCHA during the breach.
- Company now mandates multifactor authentication and password resets for U.S. accounts
The breach, which lasted approximately seven weeks, left sensitive data including names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers vulnerable to cybercriminals, DFS announced Thursday.
Adrienne Harris, New York’s financial services superintendent, revealed that PayPal lacked qualified personnel to oversee critical cybersecurity operations and failed to provide adequate training to mitigate risks. These shortcomings made it easier for attackers to exploit the system, noted Reuters.
The issue came to light on December 6, 2022, when a security analyst discovered an online message referencing a vulnerability, labeled “PP EXPLOIT TO GET SSN.” The following day, PayPal’s cybersecurity team detected a surge in unauthorized access attempts on its platform, said Reuters.
Investigations revealed that attackers were employing “credential stuffing” techniques to view federal tax forms belonging to tens of thousands of customers, said Reuters.
The breach occurred after PayPal altered data flow configurations to expand access to these forms, inadvertently exposing sensitive information. Harris also criticized PayPal for failing to implement basic security measures such as multifactor authentication and CAPTCHA to deter unauthorized access, as reported by Reuters.
In a statement, Reuters reports that PayPal acknowledged the investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding user information. “Protecting consumers’ personal information and maintaining a secure platform is a top priority,” the company said.
Since the breach, PayPal has implemented multifactor authentication for all U.S. customer accounts, mandated password resets for affected users, and added CAPTCHA to enhance security, noted Reuters.
The $2 million fine is tied to violations of New York’s cybersecurity regulation, which was established in 2017 to enhance protections for financial services, reports Reuters.
