Facebook removes image of Evelyne Axell's 'Ice Cream' because it is 'suggestive content'

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In another instance of social media surveillance gone too far, Facebook has removed a painting of a woman eating an ice cream for “containing excessive amounts of skin or suggestive content”.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art posted the 1964 painting ‘Ice Cream’ by Belgian artist Evelyne Axell onto their page, only to find that it was removed hours later by the social-media giant.

As noted alongside an updated post by the museum, Axell’s work “sought to depict active, confident women who pursue satisfaction on their own terms—such as the protagonist of 'Ice Cream', who unabashedly enjoys her dessert.

“Axell’s provocative paintings challenge artistic conventions while also exhibiting a liberated, playful spirit characteristic of the sexual revolution of the 1960s.”

Commentators were not amused by the story, one writing “If this is "suggestive" then we're in trouble,” while another pointed out: “If this is "offensive", then I would really like to stop seeing pictures of women in thongs, bent over.”

This isn’t the first time a work of art has been banned from Facebook; earlier this year they removed an image of Copenhagen's 'Little Mermaid' statue for breaking nudity rules. There have also been various campaigns across the website confronting their nudity policy.

Facebook has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.