Content moderation is high on the legislative agenda, but it needs more
No. 52: Bringing you the news that matters in video privacy and security
The Internet allows us to share information more easily than ever before - including spreading harmful and hateful content across platforms and social media. This is detrimental to public discourse and public safety.
As a result, an active effort from governments to push for greater responsibility of online platforms for content moderation and the removal of harmful content. While online platforms certainly have a responsibility to keep us safe online, this effort is a multi-pronged one and requires effort from both lawmakers and the private sector.
Google has developed new, free software to help smaller platforms and companies more easily monitor their websites for hateful content and terrorist material. This move, echoing similar initiatives from Meta, comes amid new content moderation obligations in the EU Digital Services Act and the anticipated UK Online Safety Bill. The tool should help human moderators decide measures to enforce content marked as dangerous and help prevent smaller companies from bearing the brunt of these new rules due to a lack of resources.
Meanwhile, in China, a new piece of legislation regulating the creation and dissemination of deepfakes is coming into force this month. China’s aim is to set the agenda for regulating the new era of disruptive technologies, with potential prison charges for those who break the law. Similarly, the UK and Taiwanese governments have already announced plans to ban the creation and dissemination of non-consensual deepfake pornographic videos, and similar legislation has been proposed by different states and the federal government in the US.
As always, please send any feedback or topics of interest you would like to be covered.
Seena, Editor
News
Madison Square Gardens owner used facial recognition to ban lawyers from entering venues
MSG Entertainment, who own Madison Square Gardens and other famous New York venues like the Beacon Theater, have confirmed that they have a policy of using facial recognition technology to identify who enters their venues, and in some cases, to refuse them entry. This policy includes an “attorney exclusion” list of lawyers who are barred and an algorithm that instantaneously suggests matches of hundreds of lawyers.
The New York Times: Madison Square Garden Uses Facial Recognition to Ban Its Owner’s Enemies
Google's free content moderation software helps smaller websites comply with new laws
Google is developing free content moderation software to help smaller platforms monitor dangerous and terrorist material. The software helps smaller companies with fewer resources comply with the EU Digital Services Act, which requires websites and platforms to remove terrorist content within an hour of receiving a removal order, otherwise face a fine.
The Financial Times: Google develops free terrorism moderation tool for smaller websites
Gizmodo: Google Joins Meta in Providing Free Terrorism Moderation Software for Smaller Websites
Military database of sensitive biometric data on over 2000 people sold on eBay
A U.S. military-owned biometric database has been found being sold privately on eBay. The database contained personal and biometric data on 2,632 people, including names, photographs, iris scans, and nationalities of multiple different contractors, known terrorists, and wanted people involved in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The New York Times: For Sale on eBay: A Military Database of Fingerprints and Iris Scans
The Verge: US military biometric capture devices loaded with data were sold on eBay
UK Government calls for bailiff body-worn cameras to protect the vulnerable
The UK government has called for new rules requiring bailiffs to wear body-worn cameras. These are aimed at curbing aggressive tactics used by bailiffs, improving behaviour and protecting those who are struggling with debt. This move also includes greater sanctioning powers for courts to handle agents who act inappropriately.
Gov.uk: Compulsory body-worn cameras for bailiffs to protect vulnerable
The Telegraph: Bailiffs forced to wear body cameras to protect vulnerable families
WhatsApp given green light to pursue “Pegasus” spyware lawsuit against NSO Group
The US Supreme Court has allowed Meta to pursue a lawsuit that accuses the Israeli NSO Group of exploiting a bug in its WhatsApp messaging app to install spy software. Meta argues that NSO’s operations violate US law and facilitated cyber-attacks targeting and surveilling 1400 people, including journalists, protestors, and human rights activists.
The Guardian: US supreme court lets WhatsApp pursue Pegasus spyware lawsuit
Reuters: U.S. Supreme Court lets Meta's WhatsApp pursue 'Pegasus' spyware suit
AI Snippet of the Week
Australian universities curb students’ use of AI text-generators for essays
Australian universities have created new rules banning the use of AI and changing the way they run exams and coursework to curb students “cheating” by using AI software. Academics have raised concerns over AI such as ChatGPT which can avoid anti-plagiarism software and appear credible to the naked eye.
Policy Updates
Chinese legislation regulating deepfakes comes into force this January
The Cyberspace Administration of China will begin enforcing its regulation over "deep synthesis" technologies this January. The ‘Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis of Internet Information Services’ is the first of its kind to create a comprehensive regulation for AI-powered image, audio and text-generation software that produces deepfakes.
The Wall Street Journal: China, a Pioneer in Regulating Algorithms, Turns Its Focus to Deepfakes
Tech Monitor: China has just implemented one of the world’s strictest laws on deepfakes
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