Facebook backtracks on censoring 'napalm girl'

NEW YORK (AA) – Facebook on Friday retreated from a decision to censor an iconic 1972 Pulitzer-winning photograph that depicted the horrors of the Vietnam War.

The social media network touched off a public outcry after it removed the image of the "napalm girl", posted by a Norwegian author earlier this month and later by Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg, on the grounds that it contained nudity.

Tom Egeland, who posted the photo on the social media site two weeks ago, not only had it removed by Facebook but also had his account temporarily banned. His profile page still shows a censored version posted earlier Friday.

"While we recognize that this photo is iconic, it's difficult to create a distinction between allowing a photograph of a nude child in one instance and not others," a company spokesperson wrote.

"We try to find the right balance between enabling people to express themselves while maintaining a safe and respectful experience for our global community. Our solutions won't always be perfect, but we will continue to try to improve our policies and the ways in which we apply them."

In a letter on its front page, Norwegian daily Aftenposten scolded the decision, urging Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to do better as "the world's most powerful editor".

Solberg also weighed in, saying Facebook is "taking a wrong step when they censor images like these. It works to curb the freedom of speech."

The photo, which won Nick Ut of The Associated Press a coveted Pulitzer Prize in 1973, depicts children fleeing napalm strikes, including the then 9-year-old Vietnamese-Canadian Phan Thi Kim Phuc, naked and screaming from burns she suffered on her back.

Facebook recognizes "the history and global importance of this image in documenting a particular moment in time”, the company said after reversing its decision.

"Because of its status as an iconic image of historical importance, the value of permitting sharing outweighs the value of protecting the community by removal, so we have decided to reinstate the image on Facebook where we are aware it has been removed," it said.