Meta Blocks Polish Women's Strike Facebook Profile; Activists Launch New Contact Page

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has blocked the official profile of the All-Polish Women's Strike (Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet - OSK), a prominent Polish feminist organization. The profile, which boasted nearly 500,000 followers, was suspended on Monday, July 6. This action has prompted OSK activist Marta Lempart to launch a new, temporary contact page titled "Sztab kontaktowy OSK" (OSK Contact Staff).

The new profile aims to serve as an emergency communication channel, reconnecting the organization with its substantial online following after the suspension of their main page. Lempart explained that the temporary page will primarily be used to re-establish contact with the OSK community. "You are seeing this post because you follow the page on FB that until today was called Marta Lempart and was my 'public figure' page, however that sounds :) Now it's called 'contact staff' and will serve as a temporary, emergency contact point with people who followed the @Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet profile suspended today by META (almost 500,000 people)," Lempart stated in a post.

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You are seeing this post because you follow the page on FB that until today was called Marta Lempart and was my 'public figure' page, however that sounds :) Now it's called 'contact staff' and will serve as a temporary, emergency contact point with people who followed the @Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet profile suspended today by META (almost 500,000 people).

Meta has not yet provided an official reason for the suspension. However, Marta Lempart suggested that the block is related to the OSK's activism, particularly its advocacy for legal abortion. She noted that other organizations in Poland and globally that focus on abortion rights, such as Aborcyjny Dream Team and Przychodnia Abotak, have encountered similar issues with social media platforms. "The page until 06.07 was called Marta Lempart – now it serves the Women's Strike to regain contact with followers of our FP Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet, suspended by META as part of the fight by right-wingers against BigTech with organizations fighting for women's rights," the description of the new profile reads.

The suspension raises concerns about the suppression of feminist and reproductive rights advocacy online. The OSK has been a significant voice in Poland, campaigning for women's rights, including access to safe and legal abortion, particularly following restrictive changes to abortion laws in the country. The creation of the "Sztab kontaktowy OSK" highlights the organization's determination to maintain communication and continue its advocacy despite the platform's actions.

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The page until 06.07 was called Marta Lempart – now it serves the Women's Strike to regain contact with followers of our FP Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet, suspended by META as part of the fight by right-wingers against BigTech with organizations fighting for women's rights.