Australia – Authorities seek to remove from social media image of foetus being circulated by Australian anti-abortion activists

Photograph, first published by anti-abortion campaigner Joanna Howe, purportedly taken at Townsville hospital

Tony Shepherd
Mon 9 Feb 2026

Authorities are trying to have the image removed from social media, while the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) is investigating how it was taken and shared.

Anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe first published the photo.

She claims that after a woman at Townsville hospital had an abortion, a “whistleblower” took the photo in a room for grieving parents at the hospital and leaked it to her.

Continued: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/09/foetus-image-social-media-joanna-howe-anti-abortion-post-removal-ntwnfb