back to article Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube team to ID terror content

Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter and YouTube have teamed up to share their expertise spotting terrorism-related content, in order to crimp its spread. The four put their name to a joint statement in which they declare “There is no place for content that promotes terrorism on our hosted consumer services.” The definition they're …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Its a front for more sharing of personal info...

    Or maybe it isn't... But they're all such lawless Ad-Slingers and peddlers in Behavioral Capitalism, can anyone say with certainty where this program will actually end-up???

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Its a front for more sharing of personal info...

      It ends when you no longer question. "Social media" is government controlled, no question.

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

    ... are next on the little list.

    1. allthecoolshortnamesweretaken

      Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

      Valid point. Why the downvotes?

      After all, one man's "freedom fighter" can be another man's "terrorist". And vice versa.

      Right now, there are "democratic" countries where reporting on political parties that have ties to terrorist groups can result in the journalists being prosecuted under "anti-terror" laws.

      1. tiggity Silver badge

        Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

        The classic example was Nelson Mandela.

        Back in the day a despised terrorist by many politicians in the West

        It often takes a historical perspective to change the views of many people (though I'm sure plenty of old school UK conservative politicians went to their graves still despising him)

        Censorship, just say No.

        1. William 3 Bronze badge

          Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

          He ordered the "necklacing" or Black people who didn't agree with him.

          Whilst you may get your news from the Guardian, I suggest you pick up a history book and actually try listening to views you dislike

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

        In the same way if the Brexit vote had gone 4% the other way, would Theresa May now be shouting from the roof tops 'Remain means Remain'. I very much doubt it.

        I don't believe she's pro Democracy, no one iota, but pushes the Pro Democracy line 'Brexit means Brexit', because she's in favour of it of Brexit not Democracy.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

      "... are next on the little list."

      Now you're next on the list. Now I'm next on the list.

      See you at camp.

    3. Wade Burchette

      Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

      If these websites have the technology to block terrorism, what is to stop them from blocking content they do not agree with? For example: suppose someone uploaded a video on YouTube as to why abortion should be banned, what will stop Google from automatically blocking it? Freedom of speech means you are free to say what others do not want to hear. Whether I agree with the idea is irrelevant. Taken a step further, what is to stop the government from declaring certain ideas bad and thus should automatically be blocked on YouTube?

      The best defense against terrorism is more liberty and better education, not more censorship.

      1. Stevie

        Re: what is to stop them

        Nothing. That doesn't change under the new rules of engagement. You never had "free speech" on any online platform. The owner/operators always had and still have total fiat of what they'll let you put on *their* server farm.

        The number of times I had to explain that to the Militant Few when I moderated a couple of forums was depressingly high. You want free speech, get a soapbox.

        And a permit.

      2. Trilkhai

        Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

        "Free speech" as a concept refers to government controlling people's ability to express themselves in public, so that people would have to leave the state/country altogether if they disagreed. That's very different from a person or business deciding what they'll allow on their own private property; if a person doesn't like the policy, they still have the right to do as they wish in public or on someone else's property.

      3. Mark 85

        Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

        The best defense against terrorism is more liberty and better education, not more censorship.

        I quite agree however the concept of :"better education" is root of the problem. Since the 80's or there about, in the US, critical thinking isn't taught. The kids learn to believe what they are taught by the schools, the parents, and the churches. They don't get the opportunity to learn or how-to-learn.

        Teach critical thinking and liberty and censorship will take care of itself. Of course, the powers that be, both political and business, don't want you to think for yourself. They want you to do what you are told.

      4. William 3 Bronze badge

        You don't have the right for freedom of speech

        On someone else's property.

        Just like you could throw me out of your property if I started mouthing off shit you didn't like.

        Or are you piously claiming that you believe so vigoursly in "freedom of speech" you wouldn't do so?

        Because you're a fucking liar.

    4. a_yank_lurker

      Re: Labour Supporters, Peace and Animal Rights Protestors ...

      reminds me of what Martin Niemoeller said:

      "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—

      Because I was not a Socialist.

      Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—

      Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

      Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—

      Because I was not a Jew.

      Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

  3. arman1
    Stop

    Very good initiative

    I really appreciate this initiative from these GIANTS. But there is another problem which has been around for decades and is being ignored by the authorities and the problem is PORNOGRAPHY. Yes this undoubtedly is one of the most heinous acts that is damaging the society to a great extent. Why cannot this garbage be completely removed from the internet? Why these authorities are being so careless about this crime? Yes this is a crime, a crime against morality which is as much important to be stopped as the extremism to nurture a society that is inoffensive. I really hope that the authorities like these GIANTS will take strict measurements to stop this unnoticed crime.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Very good initiative

      This is irrelevant to the article. Please go peddle your so-called morality elsewhere.

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Joke

      Re: Very good initiative

      90% of people online have noticed pornography often repeatedly.

    3. lglethal Silver badge
      Flame

      Re: Very good initiative

      You seem to have misunderstood the concept of what a "crime" is. A crime is something that is commited when someone breaks a LAW in their Country. Pornography is NOT a crime in most of the west, as it is not banned by LAW. You may have a moral objection to it, but that does NOT make it a crime. Hell I have a moral objection to your "holier than thou" Moral objection, but I dont consider that you've commited a crime.

      If you consider it this big a Problem, feel free to head over to Iran, where fully dressed female models (who happen to have photos taken without their headscarf on) are considered to have broken the law on pornography and face years in prison. It seems like you would fit right in over there!

      Muppet...

      1. Pen-y-gors

        Re: Very good initiative

        Pornography is NOT a crime in most of the west

        ...except of course in the UK, which has decided that taking (or possessing) a photograph of a variety of legal acts is iitself illegal.

    4. 's water music

      Re: Very good initiative

      Obvious troll is apparently not obvious? One wonders which smartphone or PC OS @arman1 prefers. Also his/her stance on feminism and positive discrimination policies...

  4. ratfox
    Happy

    "Google-shaped hole"

    FYI: YouTube is part of Google, and that's where Google has most of its user-generated content.

    Unless you're worried about the terrorists proselytizing on Google+? <snicker>

    1. 's water music

      Re: "Google-shaped hole"

      Unless you're worried about the terrorists proselytizing on Google+? <snicker>

      Prolly quite sensible. I doubt the NSA bothers with monitoring it

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Facepalm

    I'm afraid...

    This will work just as well as a complete ban on child-pornography...

  6. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Hashes?

    So an MD5 which would be defeated by a single pixel alteration, or a hidden comment, or removal of exif data/ gps, resizing, border added etc...

    IMO Lip service for PR, image recognition is way more accurate but costs CPU power so this is just a "doing the bare minimum" action to placate the non-tech savvy politicos.

    1. 's water music

      Re: Hashes?

      defeated by a single pixel alteration, or a hidden comment, or removal of exif data/ gps, resizing, border added etc...

      Thank fuck for you. Given the google shaped hole in the initiative, it seems doubtful that any of them will have been able to stumble across a service such as PhotoDNA or something similar. Saved a few red faces there.

    2. Pen-y-gors

      Re: Hashes?

      Dunno about a single pixel, but presumably there are various transformations which cumulatively tend to confuse any hashing techniques, whilst preserving the gist of the underlying image.

      And thinking of image recognition, I see that AWS are now pushing their image recognition services...

  7. Geoff May (no relation)

    Captain Beatty will be pleased with this

    [NT]

  8. Inachu

    This can only truly work if the ideological movement of stated news source is removed.

    this means all types of terror. Does not matter who it is from be they from torries or democrats or muslims or jews or atheists. No matter the source then any and all terror should be removed.

    I think the top 2 terrors hitting all nations at the moment is:

    Muslim extremism

    Neoconservative agendas to create a new world order.

    Get rid of the above 2 examples and the world will instantly be a better place.

  9. Howard Hanek
    Childcatcher

    You Don't Have To Sign Your Confession Anymore

    Isn't it so much simpler to bypass the entire interrogation process to get them to sign a confession when you can dispense with the whole thing and just proceed right into the punishment phase?

  10. Chozo
    Pirate

    So let me get this straight...

    It's OK to publish a video on YouTube showing how to make high explosives with a bonus masterclass in DIY shaped charges (purely for educational purposes and the removal of tree stumps ;) but if I make a passionate appeal for help in the ongoing struggle of Pirates Vs Ninjas then I get into trouble?

    1. Mark 85

      Basically, I think you got it. Now if the owner of the video has a Middle Eastern type name... all bets are off.

  11. AndrewDu

    Thin end of wedge...

    "There is no place for content that promotes terrorism on our hosted consumer services"

    "There is no place for content that promotes hate speech"

    "There is no place for content that promotes hate"

    "There is no place for content that promotes extreme views"

    "There is no place for content that promotes views we don't like"

    "There is no place in society for people with views we disagree with"

    Job done.

  12. Inachu

    Need to make sure that all terrorism activity is treated and marked equally and marked the same way so that no country gets away with anything and not just because their religion allows it should be allowed.

    This way no matter what background or religion you belong to that if you or your family or friends kill someone then it will shown equally indifferent to any other nationality,creed,race,religion.

    Also make sure these records are by numerical value only so that nobody can add a sub note or comment to the number as to explain the reasoning which can be plain lies/hubris/propaganda

    This way by sheer numbers alone will prove facts more than words.

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