Google Develops Free Terrorism-Moderation Tool For Smaller Websites (arstechnica.com) 21
Google is developing a free moderation tool that smaller websites can use to identify and remove terrorist material, as new legislation in the UK and the EU compels Internet companies to do more to tackle illegal content. From a report: The software is being developed in partnership with the search giant's research and development unit Jigsaw and Tech Against Terrorism, a UN-backed initiative that helps tech companies police online terrorism. "There are a lot of websites that just don't have any people to do the enforcement. It is a really labor-intensive thing to even build the algorithms [and] then you need all those human reviewers," said Yasmin Green, chief executive of Jigsaw. "[Smaller websites] do not want Isis content there, but there is a ton of it all over [them]," she added.
The move comes as Internet companies will be forced to remove extremist content from their platforms or face fines and other penalties under laws such as the Digital Services Act in the EU, which came into force in November, and the UK's Online Safety bill, which is expected to become law this year. The legislation has been pushed by politicians and regulators across Europe who argue that Big Tech groups have not gone far enough to police content online. But the new regulatory regime has led to concerns that smaller start-ups are not equipped to comply and that a lack of resources will limit their ability to compete with larger technology companies.
The move comes as Internet companies will be forced to remove extremist content from their platforms or face fines and other penalties under laws such as the Digital Services Act in the EU, which came into force in November, and the UK's Online Safety bill, which is expected to become law this year. The legislation has been pushed by politicians and regulators across Europe who argue that Big Tech groups have not gone far enough to police content online. But the new regulatory regime has led to concerns that smaller start-ups are not equipped to comply and that a lack of resources will limit their ability to compete with larger technology companies.
Re: come on (Score:2)
Should require notice.. (Score:5, Interesting)
I don't know the state of the legislation in various places. However, it seems to me that penalties should only be assessed if illegal material us not removed after being officially notified of its existence by a responsible government agency.
Small operators don't have moderation departments that can inspect everything. Nor do they have legal departments that can determine what is legal and what is not.
Re: (Score:2)
I don't know the state of the legislation in various places. However, it seems to me that penalties should only be assessed if illegal material us not removed after being officially notified of its existence by a responsible government agency. .
I agree that this should be the case, but some countries (including the EU) see that differently and want website operators to be judge and enforcement for their sites at the same time. They also demand that there is a dispute system in place as well, because they still pay lip service to "free speech".
Re: Should require notice.. (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
There are two reasons that won't happen, at least in the US:
First, ISPs can censor you in ways the government legally can't. It is, after all, "our network, our rules," never mind those rules are based on legal requirements. It's a shell game, but one that works.
And second, it would cost money that is better spent (in the opinion of the powers that be) on graft and corruption.
(And, of course, it's an impossible goal anyway, and they know it, but this isn't about controlling dangerous speech, it's just about
Re: (Score:2)
"We don't have the resources to stop terrorism on our platform" probably isn't going to be seen as a very strong argument for an exemption.
Kinda like "our staff are too busy to check ID, but if you tell us when kids are buying booze we'll stop them."
Illegal? (Score:2)
Nope (Score:5, Insightful)
No website operator in their right mind should even remotely consider using something like this. Especially not if it is produced by Google. That is just a recipe for utter disaster.
Re: (Score:2)
Nonsense. Let it flag stuff for human review. Most services already use commercial spam filters and the like anyway.
Neat! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:3)
The official definition of terrorism is like the official definition of spam: "That which I do not like," with a big helping of "that which I do not do" mixed in.
It's a tool to suppressed inconvenient opinions (and facts).
Wikileaks = High Tech Terrorist..? (Score:1)
OBVIOUS PROBLEM IS OBVIOUS.
The Holy Six will declare this unconstitutional. (Score:1)
Which is what happens the first time some Republican makes terrorist threats and is targeted.
Re: (Score:2)
Just make yourself a new internet. (Score:2)
A centralized database run by big tech used to deplatform people? Yeah this totally will never be used to legislate morality and silence anyone who refuses to comply with the party line.
Incoming: "Private corporations aren't bound by free speech, just make yourself a new _______ if you don't like it." this iteration the missing word will be "internet".
Do no evil? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Media companies were never our friends -- they wanted eyeballs, control, and money as they sold your public data to private companies.
I'm sure there are (Score:2)
Like, at that point might as well host your website in China.