Facebook censors drawing of a hand by Hans Holbein the Younger
Facebook's algorithm censored a 16th-century drawing of a hand by Hans Holbein the Younger, depicting the hand of Erasmus. The social network initially blocked the image before reinstating it, attributing the error to an algorithmic flaw rather than human review. This incident follows Facebook's history of censoring artworks, including Gustave Courbet's 'L'Origine du monde' at the Musée d'Orsay. The censorship highlights ongoing tensions between automated content moderation and artistic expression.
Key facts
- Facebook censored a drawing of a hand by Hans Holbein the Younger.
- The drawing depicts the hand of Erasmus.
- The image was initially blocked but later reinstated.
- Facebook blamed an algorithmic error for the censorship.
- Facebook previously censored Gustave Courbet's 'L'Origine du monde'.
- 'L'Origine du monde' is held at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
- The incident reflects issues with automated content moderation.
- The censorship was reported by Artribune in September 2016.
Entities
Artists
- Hans Holbein the Younger
- Gustave Courbet
- Erasmus
Institutions
- Musée d'Orsay
- Artribune
Locations
- Paris
- France