No, Facebook isn't censoring searches on the El Salvador Mega Prison - here's what's happening

Lately, there’s been a stir on Reddit about Facebook (and Instagram) censoring searches for the El Salvador Mega Prison. Users say that typing this phrase into the search bar triggers a warning about child sexual abuse content. Naturally, this has sparked anger and theories about suppression. But the truth is simpler — and less sinister — than it seems.

The El Salvador Mega Prison, officially called the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), is a huge facility built by President Nayib Bukele’s government to lock up gang members. It’s designed to hold thousands and has grabbed attention, especially in the US, where people are curious about Bukele’s tough stance on crime. Reports of harsh conditions and possible human rights issues have only fueled interest. Adding to that, Maryland Senator Chris Van Holle just met with Kilmar Ábrego García, a man who was mistakenly deported to a mega-prison in the country. This could explain why many are looking for more information about the mega-prison in El Salvador.

The problem starts when users search “El Salvador Mega Prison” on Facebook or Instagram. They get hit with a message saying, “We think that your search might be associated with child sexual abuse.” Of course, seeing that statement is jarring, and some have speculated it’s a deliberate move to hide info about the prison. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear this isn’t about the prison itself.

Reddit users have figured it out. One person, u/Weak_Programmer9013, tested it and wrote, “It’s the word ‘mega’ that is being censored.” They found that dropping “mega” from the search — like just typing “El Salvador Prison” — lets the results come up without any warning. So what’s up with “mega”? It turns out Facebook has been flagging that word for a while now because it’s tied to a file-sharing site called Mega, which has been linked to illegal stuff, including child abuse material.

This isn’t even something new. An article from Time Extension earlier last year pointed out that Facebook and Instagram have been suppressing searches with “mega” for months. It’s part of a broader effort to stop the spread of harmful content. But the catch? It’s a blunt tool. The filter doesn’t care about context — it just sees “mega” and hits the brakes. That’s why searches about the prison, or even unrelated things like “Mega Drive,” get caught in the net.

Some users aren’t buying it, though. u/CuriousBearMI posted, “That’s EXTREMELY suspicious, tbh. Making searches for important info ding your account for attempted access to CSAM is…one way to manufacture evidence against dissenters.” It’s a fair worry. The warning is heavy-handed and could make anyone feel uneasy. But there’s no evidence this is a targeted attack on info about the prison.

Nevertheless, Facebook isn’t censoring details about the El Salvador Mega Prison on purpose. You can still find posts and articles about it by tweaking your search — try “El Salvador CECOT” or skip “mega” altogether. The real issue is a clumsy filter tripping over a single word. It’s not a conspiracy, just a side effect of a system trying to tackle illegal content. Frustrating? Sure. But not a cover-up.