Facebook apology for rejecting user’s Tiananmen tribute

FACEBOOK has apologised after it rejected a Hong Kong activist’s temporary profile picture frame marking the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown.

Users of the social media network are allowed to overlay their profile picture with a frame that supports a cause.

Fung Ka Keung designed a frame for the 28th anniversary of the June 4 crackdown this Sunday. It also called for an end of “dictatorial rule”.

Facebook rejected the design, saying it “belittles, threatens or attacks a particular person, …nationality or group”.

A similar overlay with the text “Don’t forget June 4” was approved, but only after a 72-hour delay.

Facebook, keen to re-enter China after it was blocked by Beijing’s censorship in 2009, eventually rescinded its rejection of the original request.

Mr Fung said that he suspected the issue was politically motivated.

Facebook said: “The frame was disapproved incorrectly. We apologise for this mistake…”