Facebook has shut down an anti-abortion page that was posing as an extreme pro-choice group in the run-up to this month’s referendum.

The page cited the case of Alfie Evans, the British toddler with a degenerative brain disease who died on Saturday after his parents fought a legal battle to take him to Italy for treatment. “That’s why abortion is so important so that women are spared the heartbreak of having kids like Alfie #repealthe8th #herbody #herchoice”, the post said.

It comes amid calls for greater transparency on social media and online advertising. In recent weeks, pages run by anti-abortion activists have paid to boost social media posts presented as facts. The online advertisements are unregulated and do not appear to be linked to registered