Facebook apologises for accidentally declaring the Philippines at war

A message designed to promote Independence Day showed an upside-down flag, a sign that the country is at war.

By Quinton O'Reilly Monday 13 Jun 2016, 4:20 PM

Jun 13th 2016, 4:20 PM 11,018 Views 4 Comments

https://jrnl.ie/2821176

Image: AP Photo/Bullit Marquez

Image: AP Photo/Bullit Marquez

FACEBOOK HAS APOLOGISED for a mistake which implied the Philippines was at war.

On 12 June, the site displayed a banner to users in the country to coincide with the country’s Independence Day.

There was one problem. The flag on display was upside down which is the sign that the country is at war. Usually, the blue section of the flag is at the top to show that the country is at peace, but inverted when it’s at war.

“The flag, if flown from a flagpole, shall have its blue field on top in times of peace and the red field on top in time of war”, reads a section of the Philippines Flag and Heraldic code. “If in a hanging position, the blue field shall be to the right (left of the observer) in time of peace, and the red field to the right (left of the observer) in time of war”.

Facebook says we're at war. Happy Independence Day, Philippines. May we truly be free. #Kalayaan2016 o #Kasarinlan pic.twitter.com/SktzRNSJMj
— Camille Conde (@Cam_Conde) June 12, 2016

Source: Camille Conde/Twitter

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Facebook apologised for the mistake, telling the PhilStar Global it was "unintentional, and we're sorry".

"We care deeply about the community in the Philippines and, in an attempt to connect people on Independence Day, we made a mistake," it said.

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