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A24 TECHNOLOGY
Saturday 16 March 2019
Facebook launches AI to find and remove 'revenge porn'

BY RACHEL LERMAN venge porn. Many such
AP Technology Writer laws came up in the past
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — several years as posting of
Facebook is rolling out non-consensual images
technology to make it eas- and videos has proliferat-
ier to find and remove inti- ed. New York's law, which
mate pictures and videos passed in February, al-
posted without the sub- lows victims to file lawsuits
ject's consent, often called against perpetrators and
"revenge porn." makes the crime a misde-
Currently, Facebook users meanor.
or victims of revenge porn Facebook has been work-
have to report the inap- ing to combat the spread
propriate pictures before of revenge porn on its site
content moderators will re- for years, but has largely re-
view them. The company lied on people proactively
has also suggested that us- reporting the content up
ers send their own intimate until now. But that means
images to Facebook so by the time it's reported,
that the service can iden- someone else has already
tify any unauthorized up- seen it, chief operating of-
loads. Many users, howev- ficer Sheryl Sandberg said
er, balked at the notion of in an interview with The As-
sharing revealing photos or sociated Press. And it's of-
videos with the social-me- In this April 4, 2013 file photo, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg walks at the company's head- ten tough and embarrass-
dia giant, particularly given quarters in Menlo Park, Calif. ing for a victim to report a
its history of privacy failures. Associated Press photo of themselves.
"This is about using technol-
The company's new ma-
Tokyo's Olympics may become chine learning tool is de- ogy to get ahead of the
problem," Sandberg said.
signed to find and flag the
known as the 'Robot Games' pictures automatically, Facebook still sees user-
contributed photos as one
then send them to humans
way to address the prob-
to review.
Facebook and other social lem, and says it plans to
By STEPHEN WADE media sites have struggled expand that program to
AP Sports Writer to monitor and contain the more countries. It allows
TOKYO (AP) — Tokyo's inappropriate posts that people to send in photos
Olympics may become users upload, from violent they fear might be circulat-
known as the "Robot threats to conspiracy theo- ed through encrypted links.
Games." ries to inappropriate pho- Facebook then creates a
Organizers on Friday tos. digital code of the image
showed off robots that will Facebook has faced harsh so it can tell if a copy is ever
be used at the new Na- criticism for allowing of- uploaded and deletes the
tional Stadium to provide fensive posts to stay up original photo from its serv-
assistance for fans using too long, for not removing ers.
wheelchairs. posts that don't meet its The company does not ex-
Tokyo Olympic official Ma- standards and sometimes pect the new technology
saaki Komiya pointed out for removing images with to catch every instance of
that Japan is known for its A robot passes a basket containing drinks to a woman in wheel- artistic or historical value. revenge porn, and said it
robot technology, and the chair during an unveiling event in Tokyo Friday, March 15, 2019. Facebook has said it's been will still rely on users report-
2020 Summer Games are a Associated Press working on expanding its ing photos and videos.q
good place to show off. moderation efforts, and the
"Robots should not over- Not to be outdone, Pana- ogy services for the Tokyo company hopes its new
whelm people," Komiya, sonic Corp.— also a ma- Olympics, told reporters. technology will help catch
the vice director general to jor Olympic sponsor — Minoru Yamauchi of Toy- some inappropriate posts.
the Tokyo Olympics, told a showed off its "power assist ota, the general manager The technology, which will
news conference. "Robots suit." When worn, the suit for 2020 Robot Develop- be used across Facebook
are something that have offers support to the back ment, said the automaker is and Instagram, was trained
an amicable relationship and hip area and allows for branching out and becom- using pictures that Face-
with human beings and heavy objects to be lifted ing a "mobility company." book has previously con-
can work together. That's with less effort. Panasonic "We have been looking at firmed were revenge porn.
the kind of robots we envi- said 20 of the suits will be how we can support the It is trained to recognize a
sion." used at the Olympics and daily lives of people, and "nearly nude" photo — a
The robots are made by could help guests with their how we can develop ro- lingerie shot, perhaps —
major Olympic sponsor luggage and with other lift- bots that can partner with coupled with derogatory
Toyota Motor Corp. Toy- ing chores. daily life," Yamauchi said. or shaming text that would
ota officials said 16 of the "Through this occasion, "In the Tokyo Olympics, suggest someone upload-
so-called "human support people in the world will be there will be many guests in ed the photo to embarrass
robots" will be used at the able to realize how ad- wheelchairs and we would or seek revenge on some-
National Stadium with five vanced Japan is in terms of like them enjoy the games one else.
other "delivery support ro- robot technology," Hideyo without worrying about At least 42 states have
bots" also being available. Hirata, director of technol- their mobility."q passed laws against re-