Facebook to Revise Algorithm After VISITFLANDERS Protest Over Censorship of Rubens Nudes

Following a viral protest by VISITFLANDERS, the Flemish tourism board, Facebook has agreed to revise its advertising policy regarding artistic nudity. The dispute began months ago when the social network blocked images of paintings by Pieter Paul Rubens, including the Descent from the Cross triptych, posted on VISITFLANDERS' page due to nudity. VISITFLANDERS responded with a satirical video showing police evacuating visitors from the Rubenshuis museum in Antwerp, which quickly went viral. The tourism board argued that Facebook's algorithm hindered the promotion of Flemish masters and damaged tourism. The issue escalated further when selfies from Marina Abramović's exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, particularly the reenactment of Imponderabilia (1977) featuring nude performers, were also censored. In a meeting at the Rubenshuis, Facebook committed to updating its algorithm to allow advertisements containing artistic nudity and to simplify the appeal process for blocked content. Peter De Wilde, CEO of VISITFLANDERS, hailed the outcome as a turning point for the art world. The resolution comes amid broader challenges for Facebook, including stock declines, racism, fake news, and privacy issues.