Facebook allows its users to post decapitation images and videos again on its website after prohibiting it in May.
The social networking site prohibited its users from uploading disturbing photos and clips showing things like beheadings and other casualties and would remove videos showing violence flagged by users. Just then, the social network was acting upon a backlash that arose after a couple of decapitation videos were uploaded and shared around the site. Facebook said at that time that it was still reviewing its policy about the controversial content.
Now, the company overturned that policy and went back to permitting its users to post such files again.
A spokesperson for Facebook told CNET, "Facebook has long been a place where people turn to share their experiences, particularly when they're connected to controversial events on the ground, such as human rights abuses, acts of terrorism and other violent events. People share videos of these events on Facebook to condemn them. If they were being celebrated, or the actions in them encouraged, our approach would be different."
The company, however, didn't say when it exactly lifted the ban.
Meanwhile, the social networking site's Statement of Rights and Responsibilities state: "You will not post content that: is hate speech, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence."
Depicting graphic contents like decapitation are only a violation of its policy if the content is being celebrated by users, as argued by the social network. Conversely, the company spokesperson said that the company is trying to figure out the preeminent ways to give users control on what they see on Facebook.
"Since some people object to graphic video of this nature, we are working to give people additional control over the content they see," the spokesperson said. "This may include warning them in advance that the image they are about to see contains graphic content."
