Photos deemed «paedocriminal»: «How Facebook banned me».»

French photographer and videographer Alexandre Sattler has been banned from the social network, which considered some of his photos to be «pedocriminal». Here, he recounts his misadventure and denounces GAFA's use of artificial intelligence.

Here's the story. First, I posted this image on my Alexandre Sattler - Gaiaimages Photography.

It's a photograph taken during a report in Bangladesh to denounce the living conditions of a section of the population who have no choice but to live along the rails. First warning from Facebook (it's true, you can see a little piece of willy, I accept the sentence, but remain perplexed).

A second warning

Then, on the occasion of International Women's Rights Day on March 8, I post this image:

For reasons I don't understand, I received a second warning from Facebook.

«Child nudity» and «paedocriminality»

A few months later, to mark the start of the new school year, I posted this photograph of young Himba students. It depicts the Himba people of Namibia, a semi-nomadic people who are among the few to have preserved their traditional dress and culture.

Third warning from Facebook for child nudity... I didn't see it coming, but what can you do against algorithms that set new standards and smooth out the way you see the World? Facebook condemns cultural diversity and the work of photographers.

And now, for the past few days, my page Facebook Alexandre Sattler - Gaiaimages Photography has been banned from the social network, for posting a photograph of Rakhul, a little Indian boy living in the suburbs of Pondicherry. This is the image that the platform considers to be child pornography:

The most boring part of the story, is our powerlessness in the face of GAFAM; It's having to accept unjust and liberticidal decisions, without the possibility of having someone to talk to. I find myself faced with the dictate of an algorithm devoid of any common sense... Sometimes, the future really scares me.

Anyway, I can't communicate on Facebook anymore, so I'm putting out a good old-fashioned newsletter to introduce you to my latest book, with Rakhul on the cover. This book is a tribute to what unites us and brings us together beyond the virtual. The smile.

This text was first published as a newsletter by the author, who then sent it to us for publication in our columns.

Alexandre Sattler
In praise of smiles
Foreword by David Le Breton
Editions Hozhoni
2022
pages

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