Community groups hit in information sharing ban

A CRUCIAL domestic violence support service helping at-risk Gold Coast women and children has been caught up in Facebook’s “news” ban.

RizeUp founder and director Nicolle Edwards said it was one of dozens of local DV services impacted by the move.

“Without Facebook, we can’t connect with those who are struggling, which is particularly concerning during a pandemic where violence continues to be at critically high levels,” she said.

“Outside of the physical services we provide, many people simply rely on the security of having us there and knowing they can connect with RizeUp via Facebook.

Additional DV services that have been removed include: Gold Coast Domestic Service, 1800-Respect, DV Connect, RizeUp, Micah Projects, Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, Red Rose Foundation, Australia Access Community Services Ltd, The Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, Queensland Sexual Assault Network, BHC Creating Liveable Communities, Small Steps 4 Hannah, ATSILS + Red Rose.

On Thursday morning, Facebook also wiped Gold Coast Health and the BOM pages clear of content but reactivated them around midday.

Destination Gold Coast, the Nerang Soccer Club, homeless charity Agape Outreach, Save Our Spit as well as dozens of other Gold Coast organisations were also affected. On their pages the groups labelled the ban as “inexplicable”.

“We are not a commercial news outlet and are a not-forprofit community organisation,” they wrote on their pages.

Bond University has also been caught in the crossfire, labelling the move as an “overreaction and unwarranted” with a spokesman saying the educator was “extremely disappointed” with the ban.

“We are an independent, non-profit university dedicated to high-quality education and learning, evidence-based research, public service and freedom of speech,” the spokesman said.