Facebook suspends account of Pinoy Ako Blog’s Jover Laurio

MANILA, Philippines – Jover Laurio’s latest pledge: #IWillNotBeSilent.

The blogger behind the popular Pinoy Ako Blog turned to Twitter after her personal Facebook account was suspended on Thursday, May 24.

She believes trolls triggered the suspension by creating a fake account under her name, then mass reporting her real account as the “fake” one. Facebook then suspended her real account.

 

Trolls created a fake account under my name. @facebook suspended my account because trolls mass reported that I am pretending to be somebody else. I think the algorithim of FB sucks. #IWillNotBeSilent pic.twitter.com/jgDGu1e7bl

— PinoyAkoBlog (@PinoyAkoBlog) May 24, 2018

 

In another tweet, Laurio asked Facebook for its basis for suspending her account.

She wrote: “How can you say that I am pretending to be somebody else when I have [had] my account for 9 years now, I have more than a thousand friends.” (READ: ‘I’m sorry,’ Facebook boss tells European lawmakers)

 

Dear @facebook,
What is your basis for suspending my account? How can u say that I am pretending to be somebody else when I have my account for 9 years now,I have more than a thousand friends. The fake account that the troll created is active while you suspend my real account. pic.twitter.com/oFwciOIKXG

— PinoyAkoBlog (@PinoyAkoBlog) May 24, 2018

 

Facebook, in response to a complaint from Laurio, claimed that she violated its community standards. She then sent IDs as further proof of identification, but as of writing her account remains suspended. (READ: The scandals bedevilling Facebook)

 

Already did. Waiting for their reply. Thanks

— PinoyAkoBlog (@PinoyAkoBlog) May 24, 2018

Laurio retweeted theater actor Bart Guingona after her series of tweets. Referring to Laurio’s Facebook account suspension, Guingona said, “FB still can’t tell the difference between legit and fake and so ends up being a purveyor of lies.”

 

I hate how @Facebook is still so vulnerable to being exploited by nefarious demons. FB still can’t tell the difference between legit and fake and so ends up being a purveyor of lies. pic.twitter.com/j0aicw6dDQ

— Bart Guingona (@guingonabart) May 24, 2018

Reactivated
On Friday, May 25, Laurio’s personal account was reactivated by Facebook. She received an email in the morning, informing her that the removal was a mistake.

This is the first time that her personal account was taken down. Her Pinoy Ako Blog Facebook page has been suspended 3 times before.

Laurio is a known critic of President Duterte and has been the target of harassment and attacks from supporters. She has filed cases against pro-Duterte bloggers and personalities Franco Mabanta, Rj Nieto, and Sass Sasot.

This isn’t the first time that Facebook has suspended accounts of people who are vocal about their political views.

In 2016, Inday Espina-Varona’s account was suspended when she spoke about online abuse. Another account was taken down in the same year due to an anti-Duterte post. Facebook also suspended a petitioner’s account when he initiated a campaign to take down Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s Facebook page. Journalist Ed Lingao was told he violated Facebook’s community standards as well and had his account suspended when he had an anti-Marcos post.  – Rappler.com