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Facebook To Let French Regulators Investigate On Moderation Processes (techcrunch.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the hide-and-seek dept.

Facebook and the French government are working together to look at the social media company's efforts to moderate content on its site. "At the start of 2019, French regulators will launch an informal investigation on algorithm-powered and human moderation," reports TechCrunch. "Facebook is willing to cooperate and give unprecedented access to its internal processes." From the report: Regulators will look at multiple steps: how flagging works, how Facebook identifies problematic content, how Facebook decides if it's problematic or not and what happens when Facebook takes down a post, a video or an image. This type of investigation is reminiscent of banking and nuclear regulation. It involves deep cooperation so that regulators can certify that a company is doing everything right.

It's still unclear who's going to be in charge of this investigation. There could be regulators from France's telecom regulator (ARCEP), from the government's tech team (DINSIC), from the TV and radio regulator (CSA)... There's one thing for sure, the French government wants to focus on hate speech for now, so don't expect anyone from the privacy regulator (CNIL). The investigation isn't going to be limited to talking with the moderation teams and looking at their guidelines. The French government wants to find algorithmic bias and test data sets against Facebook's automated moderation tools.

54 comments

  1. Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's unhealthy and needs to be fought with the same kind of laws and attitude.

    1. Re:Treat Social Media like cigarettes by sittingnut · · Score: 1, Insightful

      nanny state regulation isn't the best option for either cigarettes or social media.

    2. Re:Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yeah, you're right. Those 6 million deaths and $1+ trillion per year in healthcare costs and other economic losses are nothing for governments to bother themselves with.

      Now tell me about gun control.

    3. Re:Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Powercntrl · · Score: 0

      nanny state regulation isn't the best option for either cigarettes or social media.

      Problem is, both sides whine that regulation is needed. The far-right nuts want their vitriol hosted on Facebook/Twitter's dime, and the far-left wants removal of anything that could possibly offend anyone who even remotely resembles an oppressed minority.

      This wouldn't even be a problem if people weren't so stupid as to all congregate on the same social media sites.

      --

      ---
      DRM is like antifreeze, to the MPAA/RIAA it's sweet, to the consumers it's poison.
    4. Re:Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Censorship is fascism... always. I hope we can find a technical means of defeating it forever.

    5. Re: Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The whole point behind them was to bring everybody together!

      For Facebook and Twitter it doesn't matter what kicks off so long as they can sell ads when it all hits the fan. They've known how naive the idea was that they founded their companies on, and both have taken steps to censor, block, or "curate" their stuff but that has only served to make things worse.

      Give a platform to those who hate and forcing them together with everyone else, mix in exploiters who are there to make things worse for everyone involved, and try to moderate it all with office buildings full of Filipinos (who are desperate to work but who also shouldn't be exposed to the level of depravity the hatemongers put forth), and it gets beyond the point of being a funny (in a gallows humor sense) unfolding tragedy. It becomes blatant incompetence.

    6. Re:Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Facebook ... haha .... regulated ... hahahaha ... by-da-Frogs ... ha...hahahahahaha...

    7. Re:Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People valued cigarettes more than their health. What is your point. Many diabetics value chocolate brownies more than their health. Its asinine SJW's like yourself who want to shift their individual cost of choices to others. Obviously, you want pick the tab up yourself; heaven forbid your pay for your own bleeding heart.

    8. Re: Treat Social Media like cigarettes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gab 4chan bro is unvirtue signaling twirli g his black stove pip hat and handle bar mustach trolling to the infinite power yo. Kek that hip hep cat not a nazi but hanging w nazi vibe he is totally a code warrior and as the ripples of fat echo on his cheeto dust ridden body he howls that its the girls fault they dont want a piece of this and how dare you body shame him yo bro because where is the tolerance for his intolerance bro?

      So what if he is a fat thug, he can sling code he is the apex predator of the information age yo! Take heed or he will work the russians and haxxorz your votes

  2. "Problematic" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Without knowing a single other detail, the fact that the people in charge of censoring the internet are the type of people who compulsively use the word "problematic" tells me we're all fucked.

    1. Re: "Problematic" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Truth does not fear investigation.

    2. Re: "Problematic" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Typically when one blurts out thought-terminating cliches, he chooses one that has at least some superficial relevance to the topic at hand.

    3. Re: "Problematic" by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      Truth does not fear investigation.

      Akshually it does. Those in power regularly use government to "investigate" their political enemies, thus scaring everyone off who might support them.

      You don't think pretty much everyone (to say nothing of rich people with big enterprises under their control) can't have something found when the unlimited power of the state comes looking?

      This is why government is, properly, forbidden from singling out uppity opposition people for investigation. This is the real reason for the 4th Amendment, by the way. Government (i.e. those with power) do not, actually, have the honor to just hassle their opponents to power.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  3. You have no believe in your argument by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    when you can't let the other side talk.

    1. Re:You have no believe in your argument by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      doesn't matter if you believe your arguments or not if you've got the power of the State to imprison or kill any who try to point that out

      Ask the Austrian woman who was unwise enough to post historical facts about the Islamic "prophet" Muhammad and was prosecuted in the EU under Sharia law, how that worked out for her

      the two greatest threats to personal liberty are Islam and large & powerful governments (regardless of political ideology)

  4. "involves deep cooperation" by sittingnut · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "... investigation is reminiscent of banking and nuclear regulation. It involves deep cooperation ..."
    "... government wants to focus on hate speech for now, so don't expect anyone from the privacy regulator..."

    first, we know what happens with banking regulation; nothing at all (except bail outs) after 2008 fiasco, as far as banks are concerned.

    that government wants to regulate "hate speech", a nebulous term subjectively defined by political ideology, should concern all who want their freedoms protected against would be political masters bent on controlling and suppressing speech and critics.
    that government doesn't want to regulate and protect citizens against violations of their right to privacy, mainly by the tech corp it is cooperating with to regulate "hate speech"(ie control speech), should increase that concern.

    1. Re: "involves deep cooperation" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That would mean that Facebook would have to block the entire country of France.
      Haters hating on haters, hating on hate-speech, is nothing but haters hating period, so all speech directed as hating hate-speech must be stopped!
      Immediately!!

      There is no such thing as "politically correct".
      People do *NOT* have the right, not to be offended.
      If you don't like what I write, fuck off.

    2. Re: "involves deep cooperation" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And it's clear you have no idea what sittingnut was talking about. They never said it wasn't defined rather it is entirely too vague given its implications. That doesn't mean it lacks basic tenets.

    3. Re: "involves deep cooperation" by lorinc · · Score: 2

      To be honest, I prefer censorship to be issued by a government rather than a private company. I can vote for a new government, I cannot vote for the new board of a company that has a complete monopoly over its sector...

      Of course, the best would be to have no censorship at all. However, it unrealistic (just think of defamation, it has to be punished and removed). In that case, I prefer it to be under the control of elected officials.

      --
      Video of some good progressive thrash music
    4. Re: "involves deep cooperation" by keithdowsett · · Score: 1

      I would prefer any censorship to be open, public, and controlled by the judiciary rather than elected officials. Judges are less prone to knee jerk reactions when faced with tabloid journalists baying for blood.

    5. Re: "involves deep cooperation" by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      first, we know what happens with banking regulation; nothing at all (except bail outs) after 2008 fiasco, as far as banks are concerned.

      Not in the EU. The rules that came in to prevent a repeat of that were quite tough and required banks to have a lot more in reserve. One of the reasons that the elite want Brexit is to get away from EU banking regulations.

      that government doesn't want to regulate and protect citizens against violations of their right to privacy

      Except France was one of the first to recognize the right to be forgotten and it was legal action in France that really pushed it to go EU wide.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. Re: "involves deep cooperation" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Red Heering DEFAMATION will buy you nothing from a Semite personal injury shyster except an empty wallet. And THAT is your model venue for THOUGHT-CRIME laws ?? How well do such laws work? How abouts ... Pelosi is a cucked Trotsky-slut ... blojobbing her Rawlsian SJW poodles. The BIGGEST GUN IN THE ROOM will first shut-down your Muzzi-wog clit-cutting salon; how's that lack-of-diversity working out for ya ?

    7. Re: "involves deep cooperation" by Highdude702 · · Score: 1

      You don't agree with me so you're a nazi!!!

  5. Translation: by Narcocide · · Score: 1

    Facebook will now attempt to bribe the French government to look the other way with unprecedented access to everyone's personal data, too.

    1. Re:Translation: by keithdowsett · · Score: 1

      Updated translation: Leniency in EU tax investigation offered in exchange for 'deep cooperation' between developers and French security services. Only stumbling block is obtaining French agreement not to disturb hacks already put in place for US intelligence community.

    2. Re:Translation: by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      Facebook will now attempt to bribe the French government to look the other way with unprecedented access to everyone's personal data, too.

      A cynic might suggest this is the real reason government officials hassle deep pockets -- to get paid to get back out of the way. As it is pretty much everywhere worldwide. In the West, they just have to hide it better, under cover of official action. If you can induce into service "useful idiots", true believers to play up the sob stories, all the better, even if true .

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  6. Just take down France - problem solved. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Easier, faster and much cheaper.

  7. Re:APK's delicious tears by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You should probably get help if you find this entertaining for as long as you have.

  8. Sigh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It has to be said: #FuckZuck. The guy is a fucking piece of garbage. Fuck the Zuck!

  9. ERADICATE ALL HATE by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ERADICATE ALL HATE - Eradicate anyone comparing people or their thoughts to leprosy or other diseases

    Oh wait

  10. Re:= hard coded censorship by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Appreciated.

  11. Eventually the Chinese by Sqreater · · Score: 1

    Eventually the Chinese will compete internationally with Facebook, Google, etc. by offering their own, more filtered and controlled versions to countries that will, like France, find them more acceptable than what they now must consider an uncontrolled free- for- all for bad actors. So-called democracies will fall for the siren of control and create a shambles of rights and freedoms. The idea that rights and freedoms cost on a daily basis and we must accept those costs is becoming no longer acceptable in a time of growing hyper-liberalism and feminine emotionalism. Thus, freedom and rights die gradually for "good" but weak reasons.

    --
    E Proelio Veritas.
  12. Blocking friend requests by xanadu113 · · Score: 1

    While they're at it, maybe they can look into why Facebook saw fit to remove my girlfriend from my friends' list, and is now preventing us from adding each other back...?

    They've done this before to us, and it took increasing amounts of time before we were allowed to re-add each other. It's now been over 6 months this time, and still nothing. Shouldn't it be up to US who we accept friend requests from??

    --
    -Myke
    1. Re:Blocking friend requests by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's very simple.

      A Syrian 'refugee' told FB that your GF was his property and she is forbidden from communicating with males who are not family. FB is simply accommodating his religious beliefs and proper Sharia law.

      Continued attempts to contact her through FB may result in a referral to law enforcement resulting in your arrest and prosecution in a Sharia court.

      Move on, she's a Muslim's property now. Pay your Dimmi tax and be thankful you still have your head attached (for now).

  13. ZIP you = "FORREST chump" w/ proof by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Prove this: "I'm a much better programmer than APK, as has been proven." - by Anonymous Coward ZIP on Monday October 08, 2018 @11:27PM (#57449082)

    FROM https://yro.slashdot.org/comme...

    You're a BETTER programmer than I, quoted saying so above?

    WHERE'S PROOF OF WORK YOU DO EVEN /.ers LIKE & USE?

    It's NOT!

    * I have DOZENS of /.ers saying they like & use my work - praising it & it's good effects on more speed, security, reliability & anonymity PLUS 100,000++ users of it worldwide - DO YOU??

    HELL NO!

    You also LIED trying to "take credit" for a SOLUTION to C++ string buffer overflow issues I SOLVED WAY BEFORE YOU https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... proof's right there scumbag punk you are.

    I also shot you to pieces on your github LIE @ the root of all that too (yes that's you too scumbag) https://yro.slashdot.org/comme...

    LIAR ZIP says he has no account "I don't have an account, so I don't have mod points" https://news.slashdot.org/comm...

    Yet LIAR ZIP says he downmods my posts (IMPOSSIBLE MINUS AN ACCOUNT on /.): "I down-modded a few of your post on other threads" - by Anonymous Coward "ZIP" on Thursday October 11, 2018 @11:31AM (#57461058) FROM https://yro.slashdot.org/comme...

    ZIP HIDES THIS DOWNMODDING IT TWICE as it EXPOSES his bullshit https://news.slashdot.org/comm...

    APK

    P.S.=> CodeSigning you "praise" (I don't for GOOD REASONS & I use something better) can & HAS been STOLEN & ABUSED https://www.helpnetsecurity.co... MY METHOD CAN'T BE (upmodded +2 INTERESTING in CODING FOR DEFCON no less) https://it.slashdot.org/commen... ... apk

  14. Agreed 110% (from the REAL APK)... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See my subject: Blame those impersonating me. I only post on hosts IF they stop threats OR to speed you up. I don't off topic.

    I've got my own "psycho fanclub" IMPERSONATING me & spamming + lying about MY work (I don't post about it unless it applies to STOP THREATS or SPEED YOU UP).

    They also STALK ME constantly by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous posts like whackos!

    * They're a pack of BUTTHURT little wannabes & psychos I've torn to shreds before & this is their "effete 'revenge'" & "ReTaLiAtiOn" lol apparently!

    Especially GOOFS like c6gunner CAUGHT IMPERSONATING ME https://linux.slashdot.org/com...

    (His name's on that post link as the SUBMITTER yet signing "APK" as I do while he ALTERED users words of praise of my work (since he tried INSULTING me & I simply issued a FAIR CHALLENGE to him that HE SHOW HE CAN DO BETTER - he hasn't to date & NEVER will (wannabe))).

    ZIP is another I've had to PUBLICLY SHAME & he tried HIDING facts that show he's a FOOL & A LIAR here, twice https://news.slashdot.org/comm...

    APK

    P.S.=> Jackass WEAKLING LOSERS abound (ZIP & c6gunner = PRIME EXAMPLES)... apk

  15. Sure, that makes sense by argStyopa · · Score: 1

    An American company lets regulators from a country that FINES YOU IF YOU USE THE WRONG WORDS FOR THINGS (ie not using French) review it's moderation.

    --
    -Styopa
  16. IMPERSONATING me AGAIN? apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You're caught impersonating me c6gunner (your name's the submitter signing "APK") https://linux.slashdot.org/com... & you ALTERED /.ers PRAISE of my work (not yours you don't even HAVE).

    (Don't throw stones if you live in a glass house vs. me: RIGHT ZIP? https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... )

    LIAR ZIP says he has no account "I don't have an account, so I don't have mod points" https://news.slashdot.org/comm...

    Yet LIAR ZIP says he downmods my posts (IMPOSSIBLE MINUS AN ACCOUNT on /.): "I down-modded a few of your post on other threads" - by Anonymous Coward "ZIP" on Thursday October 11, 2018 @11:31AM (#57461058) FROM https://yro.slashdot.org/comme...

    APK

    P.S.=> GROW UP weezils - you do it to yourselves trying to "take me on" & FAILING like you always do (especially on tech) + so then you start STALKING me by UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous posts OR by IMPERSONATING me (weak BITCH tactics only a HOMO would do, lol)... apk

  17. Re:APK's delicious tears by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hi APK,

    Not only am I better programmer you. I'm better at posting. You can't even pull off these fake posts.

    ZIP

    P.S. => So much winning going on for me. Proven that C++ is safer than Delphi. Proven that signing code to authenticate it is better than running unknown code.

  18. Zach I. Patterson proven a LIAR blowhard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See how STUPID "ZIP" (Zach I. Patterson) CHIMP is (taking credit for what I solved before him) https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... (he needs to LEARN TO READ)!

    I even SHOW ways to do it YOURSELF https://tech.slashdot.org/comm... (he couldn't).

    Delphi/FreePascal/ObjectPascal HAS no issue w/ null-term'd string bufferoverflows - C does, C++ can UNLESS you do what I said 1st loser.

    "I'm a much better programmer than APK" - by Anonymous Coward ZIP on Monday October 08, 2018 @11:27PM (#57449082) FROM https://yro.slashdot.org/comme... yet nothing to show in programs. I can from registered /.ers liking/using/praising my work (& 100k users worldwide too). He can't.

    LIAR ZIP says he has no account "I don't have an account, so I don't have mod points" https://news.slashdot.org/comm...

    Yet LIAR ZIP says he downmods my posts (IMPOSSIBLE MINUS AN ACCOUNT on /.): "I down-modded a few of your post on other threads" - by Anonymous Coward "ZIP" on Thursday October 11, 2018 @11:31AM (#57461058) FROM https://yro.slashdot.org/comme...

    Tell us about CODE SIGNING (which has been STOLEN & ABUSED) https://www.helpnetsecurity.co... MY METHOD CAN'T BE (upmodded +2 INTERESTING in CODING FOR DEFCON no less) https://it.slashdot.org/commen...

    APK

    P.S.=> Classic & HILARIOUS how STUPID you are CHIMPANZEE (descended from them obviously) - this makes my ALL-TIME FAVORITE for you dimwit, lol... apk