From: bencollver@tilde.pink   
      
   Facebook Flags Linux Topics As Cybersecurity Threats   
   ====================================================   
   By Mark Tyson   
   published 27 January 2025   
      
   DistroWatch is one of the largest affected organizations.   
      
   Facebook is banning posts that mention various Linux-related topics,   
   sites, or groups. Some users may also see their accounts locked or   
   limited when posting Linux topics. Major open-source operating system   
   news, reviews, and discussion site DistroWatch is at the center of   
   the controversy, as it seems to be the first to have noticed that   
   Facebook's Community Standards had blackballed it.   
      
   A post on the site claims, "Facebook's internal policy makers decided   
   that Linux is malware and labeled groups associated with Linux as   
   being 'cybersecurity threats.' We tried to post some blurb about   
   distrowatch.com on Facebook and can confirm that it was barred with a   
   message citing Community Standards.   
      
   DistroWatch says that the Facebook ban took effect on January 19.   
   Readers have reported difficulty posting links to the site on this   
   social media platform. Moreover, some have told DistroWatch that   
   their Facebook accounts have been locked or limited after sharing   
   posts mentioning Linux topics.   
      
   If you're wondering if there might be something specific to   
   DistroWatch.com, something on the site that the owners/operators   
   perhaps don't even know about, for example, then it seems pretty safe   
   to rule out such a possibility. Reports show that "multiple groups   
   associated with Linux and Linux discussions have either been shut   
   down or had many of their posts removed." However, we tested a few   
   other Facebook posts with mentions of Linux, and they didn't get   
   blocked immediately.   
      
   Copenhagen-hosted DistroWatch says it has tried to appeal against the   
   Community Standards-triggered ban. However, they say that a Facebook   
   representative said that Linux topics would remain on the   
   cybersecurity filter. The DistroWatch writer subsequently got their   
   Facebook account locked...   
      
   Facebook's overzealous ban on some Linux topics in the name of   
   Community Standards and its protection of its users from threats come   
   with a large ladle full of irony. "Facebook runs much of its   
   infrastructure on Linux," DistroWatch points out, "and often posts   
   job ads looking for Linux developers."   
      
   However, the Linux news site was gracious enough not to sneer at   
   Facebook's record of (not) protecting its users. For example, some   
   consider Facebook to have been instrumental in election interference   
   around the world, to have fuelled genocide in Myanmar, and, despite   
   its terrible past, has recently decided to dispose of its independent   
   fact-checkers.   
      
   There is some hope that banning Linux links and topics is a temporary   
   blip on the radar. Facebook will soon realize that it has mistaken   
   what is a flock of migratory birds for a squadron of assault drones.   
   DistroWatch notes that it also suffered from an RSS feed ban hammer   
   when Twitter changed its name to X-rated content implying X.   
      
   If you have noticed any other Linux-related domains, links, or   
   phrases that Facebook has banned, please tell us in the comments   
   section.   
      
   From:    
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)