Facebook Can Be Sued for Removing Nude Painting, French Court Rules

An appeals court in France ruled Friday that Facebook can be sued for removing the account of a person who posted an image of a famous painting that depicts a nude woman.

A 57-year-old Parisian teacher posted a photo of L’Origine du monde, Gustave Courbet’s realist depiction of a woman’s vagina, to his Facebook account five years ago, USA Today reports. Facebook suspended the user’s account and he responded by suing the company for 20,000 euros.

The painting hangs in Musée d’Orsay located in Paris.

The teacher’s lawyer told the Associated Press they were satisfied with the court’s ruling.

“On one hand, Facebook shows a total permissiveness regarding violence and ideas conveyed on the social network,” the lawyer said. “And on the other hand, (it) shows an extreme prudishness regarding the body and nudity.”

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