Facebook apologizes for 'error' that banned reports on illegals taking jobs from Americans
Facebook apologizes for 'error' that banned reports on
illegals taking jobs from Americans
By PAUL BEDARD • 8/24/15 11:00 AM
Facebook temporarily banned users from posting reports by
an immigration watchdog analyzing federal statistics that show immigrants in
general, and illegal immigrants specifically, are taking a big share of new
jobs that come open in America, according to the group producing the reports.
The giant website cited an "error" causing the
ban and apologized.
The Center for Immigration Studies, a think tank relied
upon by immigration critics, said Monday that the posting of four recent
reports on jobs and immigration had been barred by Facebook.
"When a Facebook user attempts to post or message
these reports, a message appears stating, 'Your message could not be sent
because it includes content that other people on Facebook have reported as
abusive,'" said the group.
A test by Secrets found the same results Monday. The
message said, "Warning: This Message Contains Blocked Content: Your message
couldn't be sent because it includes content that other people on Facebook have
reported as abusive."
But after Secrets raised the issue with Facebook, a
spokesman said the ban was an error and that the reports will be allowed to
post.
"This was an error and they shouldn't have any
issues sharing the links now," said a spokesperson. "An error in our
system that helps block bad links on Facebook incorrectly marked some URLs as
malicious or inappropriate. We've resolved the issue and apologize for the inconvenience
this caused," added the spokesperson.
Facebook and founder Mark Zuckerberg has taken a position
in support of immigration, which has become a top issue in the GOP presidential
primary race.
The center said that by barring four reports from being
posted on Facebook, now among the top news sources for America, the website is
censoring information key to the immigration debate and the drive by some in
Congress to expand immigration. The reports that are banned are based on
federal statistics, including the U.S. Census and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Steven Camarota, the center's director of research and
the author of the reports, said in a blog post, "The poor job market is
one of the most important issues confronting the country. It is extremely
troubling that Facebook would block studies that simply report government data
on how immigrants and natives are faring in the U.S. job market. These reports
have received a good deal of attention from various media outlets and have been
discussed by members of Congress. It is absurd to suggest they are 'abusive.'"
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