An effort by the social media company Pinterest to limit the spread of medical conspiracy theories has blocked one of the most prominent anti-abortion groups in the US from sharing its content on the site. And it’s put the social media company squarely in the middle of today’s culture wars.
The anti-abortion organisation, Live Action, and conservative activist James O’Keefe allege Pinterest targeted the group for its abortion stance, not for the reasons the company claims. They say Pinterest’s actions – first putting Live Action’s web domain name on a list of blocked pornography sites, then banning the organisation altogether – are part of a larger effort by social media companies to stifle conservative voices.