MADRID (AP) 鈥� Declaring 鈥渧ictory鈥� over Instagram after a controversial poster for his upcoming film was censored and then reinstated, Spanish director Pedro Almod贸var said Thursday that society must be alert to the power of algorithms in deciding what humans are permitted to see.
鈥淲e have to be vigilant before the machines decide what we can and cannot do,鈥� Almod贸var said after a poster for 鈥淧arallel Mothers鈥� displaying a lactating nipple was removed by Instagram's algorithm due to its ban on nudity. The social network has since apologized and backtracked after recognizing the 鈥渁rtistic context鈥� of the image.
Almod贸var, in an emailed statement, thanked thousands of Instagram users who kept re-uploading the image after it was removed.
鈥淵ou have succeeded in getting the minds behind the algorithm that decides what is or is not obscene and offensive to back off and allow the poster to circulate freely,鈥� he said. 鈥淣o matter how much information the algorithm possesses it will never have a heart or common sense.鈥�
Facebook and Instagram鈥檚 longstanding rules 鈥� and previous bans 鈥� have spurred the use of a #FreetheNipple movement on Instagram, which is used by many artists and celebrities to portray nipples despite the rules. The ban does not extend to male nipples.
鈥淧arallel Mothers鈥� starring Pen茅lope Cruz will open the Venice Film Festival on Sept. 1.
The Associated Press
