For several hours today, Facebook blocked links to “bsdetector.tech,” the website for a popular browser extension that detects and tags disreputable news sources.
“This message contains content that has been blocked by our security systems,” an error message told users when they attempted to link to the site on Facebook. “If you think you’re seeing this by mistake, please let us know.”
Daniel Sieradski, the creator of B.S. Detector, took to Twitter this morning to point out the problem:
.@Facebook is now blocking links to the B.S. Detector!!! pic.twitter.com/gUagoe3AH2
— daniel sieradski (@selfagency) December 2, 2016
here’s proof that 4 hours ago you could link to the plugin’s homepage https://t.co/gmXWlmIIKg pic.twitter.com/iGnPjm246Q
— daniel sieradski (@selfagency) December 2, 2016
It’s unclear why Facebook blocked the extension’s page, but it began working again this afternoon.