Dozens of medical tattooists who ink nipples on cancer survivors have dressed as giant breasts outside Facebook's headquarters in central London today in protest over the social media giant's algorithm censoring their posts for being 'too sexual'.
The group of medical artists and cancer survivors gathered outside the headquarters in Rathbone Square, near Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road, wearing giant inflatable breasts.
Images of their work are being restricted by algorithms because they are being wrongly sexualised, they claim. The organisers also claim censorship of social media posts by medical tattooists prevents breast cancer survivors from learning about treatments.
The World Medical Artists, which organised the campaign, said: 'The frustration lies with artists being unable to show the world how incredible you can look after breast cancer.
'These important images are deemed to be pornographic and are subsequently removed and accounts blocked by social media platforms. Breast cancer patients do not know that there is an army of artists on their doorstep!
Protesters wearing inflatable breasts stand outside Facebook's headquarters in central London
Vicky Martin and other protesters outside Facebook HQ, Rathbone Square
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook's headquarters in central London
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts react near police officers as they protest outside Facebook's headquarters in central London
Protesters wearing inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook headquarters about the social media giant's images algorithm in London
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook's headquarters in central London
Demonstrators dressed as giant inflatable breasts protest outside Facebook's headquarters in central London
Images of their work are being restricted by social media algorithms because they are being wrongly sexualised, they claim
'We want to use these images to show others breast cancer patients that we are out there.'
Vicky Martin, 47, is one of the leaders of the campaign who attended the protest. She has been tattooing nipples for 15 years and said her social media profiles have been restricted when she posts her work.
She said: 'We are doing what we need to do to stand out - and if that's jumping around in giant inflatable boobs then so be it. But people don't realise why this is so important - people like us are out there and we need breast cancer survivors to know that.
Some never even realise realistic
