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Facebook Rolls Out AI To Detect Suicidal Posts Before They're Reported (techcrunch.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the proactive-detection dept.

Facebook is rolling out "proactive detection" artificial intelligence technology that will scan all posts on the site for patterns of suicidal thoughts, and when necessary send mental health resources to the user at risk or their friends, or contact local first-responders. The goal is to use AI to decrease how long it takes to send help to those in need. TechCrunch reports: Facebook previously tested using AI to detect troubling posts and more prominently surface suicide reporting options to friends in the U.S. Now Facebook is will scour all types of content around the world with this AI, except in the European Union, where General Data Protection Regulation privacy laws on profiling users based on sensitive information complicate the use of this tech. Facebook also will use AI to prioritize particularly risky or urgent user reports so they're more quickly addressed by moderators, and tools to instantly surface local language resources and first-responder contact info. It's also dedicating more moderators to suicide prevention, training them to deal with the cases 24/7, and now has 80 local partners like Save.org, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Forefront from which to provide resources to at-risk users and their networks.

10 of 171 comments (clear)

  1. Troll bait by countach · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How long before this is trolled into oblivion?
    How long before people sue Facebook for false positives and violating their privacy?

    1. Re:Troll bait by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 3

      Hopefully, the lawsuits come soon and will be painful -- FB should be a communication tool and not snoop on the content of non-public (i.e. privacy set to anything but "public") communications.

    2. Re: Troll bait by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      If Facebook keeps doing this I'll kill myself

    3. Re: Troll bait by Cryacin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can see this play out in the USA.

      Guy is detected about to commit suicide. Police is sent.

      Police first shoot guy's dog, then the guy.

      Circle of life...

      --
      Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  2. They needed to do this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They're just attempting to get ahead of things because they know damn well at some point someone is going to do some research and show how many suicides Facebook actually CAUSES. Legally, they can say they are taking all the reasonable measures possible to prevent it.

  3. Does it actually work? by alvinrod · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I was under the impression that people who are actually suicidal don't often post about it on Facebook. If you really want to kill yourself, bringing more attention to yourself isn't a good way to accomplish this. Don't get me wrong, the petty narcissists that try to get attention by acting suicidal clearly need help as well, but I don't think this will do much to deter those who are actually suicidal.

    If Facebook really cared about the mental health and wellbeing of their users, they'd kick people off after more than fifteen minutes of daily use or just outright pull the plug on the whole works.

    1. Re:Does it actually work? by mark-t · · Score: 5, Insightful

      True, but most people who are suicdal do not genuinely want to die as much as they would rather want their living circumstances just to be different from whatever they are

      --
      File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
  4. Expectation vs Reality by n329619 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Expectation:

    Guy1: I've lost my job and my family in an accident on the same day. There's no hope anymore.

    FB: Looks like you need some help! Go visit Save.org today!

    Guy1: Thanks FB. It really helped.

    Reality:

    Guy2: Omg, this guy on the internet is so stupid. I am literally banging my head so hard that it's killing me.

    FB: Looks like you need some help! Go visit Save.org today!

    Guy2: Is this the part where I continue to bang my head?

    FB: Looks like you need some help! Go visit Save.org today!

    Guy2: Damn it. Stop spamming me. You're killing me.

    FB: Looks like you need some help! Go visit Save.org today!

    Person2: Arrrrrrugh!!! Do you want me dead or something?

    FB: We booked you a schedule on Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Thank you for using FB newest AI chatbot technology. This chatbot is sponsored by Nice-Long-Rope, the best $1.99 rope to hang things from the ceiling.

  5. What could possibly go wrong by Solandri · · Score: 4

    "Man commits suicide after becoming depressed that Facebook flagged his regular posts as suicidal."

    1. Re:What could possibly go wrong by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Interesting

      "Man commits suicide after becoming depressed that Facebook flagged his regular posts as suicidal."

      Man commits suicide after Facebook ruins his life by referring him to a state-sponsored mental health care system that thrives primarily on overprescription. But if Facebook wants more fake-ass posts that don't tell how people are really thinking, I guess this is one way to get them. I know that I will now fear Facebook referring me to some legal organization for "help", and adjust my posts accordingly.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"