Facebook rule protects journalists and activists as ‘involuntary’ public figures

The company, under wide-ranging scrutiny for harms linked to its platforms, increased protections against harassment and bullying

Facebook will count activists and journalists as involuntary" public figures and increase protections against harassment and bullying targeted at these groups, its global safety chief said in an interview this week.

The social media company, which allows more critical commentary of public figures than of private individuals, is changing its approach on the harassment of journalists and human rights defenders", who it says are in the public eye due to their work rather than their public personas.