YouTube and Facebook cracking down on child safety: Firms roll out changes to improve protections for kids using algorithm tweaks and open-sourcing amid increased scrutiny
- Both YouTube and Facebook have made an effort to tamp down on child abuse
- Facebook said it will open-source algorithms designed to combat child abuse
- The algorithms can identify identical photos, making it easier to flag
- YouTube reportedly tweaked its algorithm governing kids content last month
- It will not prioritize content that is ‘quality’ and ‘educational’ says the company
- Some creators say it has gutted their viewers while others have gotten a boost
- Both changes come amid heightened scrutiny from regulators and lawmakers
Amid heightened scrutiny, both YouTube and Facebook want to tweak their platforms to make it safer for children.
In a recent announcement, Facebook said that it will begin open-sourcing two of its algorithms used to identify child exploitation and terrorist propaganda.
The technologies are able to ‘detect identical and nearly identical photos and videos’ according to a blog post by the company.
Kids content is one of many facets that has attracted the input of regulators and lawmakers
That means it could feasibly allow sites to flag abusive content more easily as it spreads to other sites.
‘For example, when we identify terrorist propaganda on our platforms, we remove it and hash it using a variety of techniques, including the algorithms we’re sharing today,’ said the company in a post.
‘Then we share the hashes with industry partners, including smaller companies, through GIFCT so they can also take down the same content if it appears on their services.’
According to experts on child abuse and exploitation, the algorithms could potentially go a long way in helping to track down abuse as it happens and preempt its spread.
‘In just one year, we witnessed a 541% increase in the number of child sexual abuse videos reported by the tech industry to the CyberTipline,’ said John Clark, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
‘We’re confident that Facebook’s generous contribution of this open-source technology will ultimately lead to the identification and rescue of more child sexual abuse victims.’
This marks the first time that the company has open-sourced the software as noted by The Verge, though Microsoft and Google released similar technology in the past.
Facbook’s decision to open-source its algorithms coincides with a report by Bloomberg revealing YouTube’s decision to tweak an algorithm governing content for children.
According to Bloomberg, YouTube adjusted the algorithm last month and confirmed the change with the outlet on Thursday.
Though the company declined to state why it tweaked its software — which now favors ‘trusted’ creators — the change comes amid mounting pressure to make YouTube safer for kids.
Facebook has come under scrutiny for a number of scandals, including its spread of violent shootings in Christchurch New Zealand
In February, the company killed more than 400 channels amid concerns over child abuse and exploitation.
Changes haven’t gone without consequences, however. According to YouTube creators interviewed by Bloomberg, the tweak has gutted viewership for some with views dropping by as much as 98 percent.
Others have noted substantial increases in viewership, including Woolly and Tig, a British channel that saw a 156 percent increase in views over the last month.
The company has also failed to define how it prioritizes content other than saying that it must be ‘educational’ and ‘quality.’
Both Facebook and YouTube — in addition to the other large tech companies like Amazon and Google, YouTube’s parent company — have come under increased scrutiny as of late, attracting the attention of lawmakers and regulators.
In March, Facebook was criticized for what some said was a failure to stem the spread of videos depicting shootings in Christchurch New Zealand during which white nationalists killed 51 people in a mosque.
