Facebook removed 7 million posts in second quarter for false coronavirus information

By Katie Paul and Munsif Vengattil

 

FILE PHOTO: A 3D-printed Facebook logo is seen placed on a keyboard in this illustration taken March 25, 2020. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

 

(Reuters) - Facebook Inc. said on Tuesday it removed 7 million posts in the second quarter for sharing false information about the novel coronavirus, including content that promoted fake preventative measures and exaggerated cures.

 

It released the data as part of its sixth Community Standards Enforcement Report, which it introduced in 2018 along with more stringent decorum rules in response to a backlash over its lax approach to policing content on its platforms.

 

The world's biggest social network said it would invite proposals from experts this week to audit the metrics used in the report, beginning in 2021. It committed to the audit during a July ad boycott over hate speech practices.

 

The company removed about 22.5 million posts with hate speech on its flagship app in the second quarter, a dramatic increase from 9.6 million in the first quarter. It attributed the jump to improvements in detection technology.

 

It also deleted 8.7 million posts connected to "terrorist" organizations, compared with 6.3 million in the prior period. It took down less material from "organized hate" groups: 4 million pieces of content, compared to 4.7 million in the first quarter.

 

The company does not disclose changes in the prevalence of hateful content on its platforms, which civil rights groups say makes reports on its removal less meaningful.

 

Facebook said it relied more heavily on automation for reviewing content starting in April as it had fewer reviewers at its offices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

That resulted in less action against content related to self-harm and child sexual exploitation, executives said on a conference call.

 

"It's graphic content that honestly at home it's very hard for people to moderate, with people around them," said Guy Rosen, Facebook's vice president for integrity.

 

Facebook said it was expanding its hate speech policy to include "content depicting blackface, or stereotypes about Jewish people controlling the world."

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-12

 

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1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Facebook said it was expanding its hate speech policy to include "content depicting blackface, or stereotypes about Jewish people controlling the world."

While a good move, I am at a loss as to why such things were not included under its hate speech policy and removed in the past. 

Edited August 12, 20205 yr by Bluespunk

I'll bet they're looking forward to the election and hiring more censors than ever before.

And who at FB determines what is false and what is not?

49 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

And who at FB determines what is false and what is not?

I think they have their own politburo ????

So was this  actually by "Facebook" or the claimed  "independant" fact-check whorganization   Zuckerburg deflected  responsibility  to under questioning?

FB is promoting Black Lines Matter... to the 'T' 

 

 

 

So free speech is no more in fashion, I see, next war will be against free thought.

Not necessarily "false" but what FB deems as false.

19 hours ago, Kelsall said:

And who at FB determines what is false and what is not?

Gotta ask, do you think you could do it? Honest answer.

If you people hate Facebook so much, why do you look at it?

 

Instead of moaning about the fact that a privately owned site exercises it's right to choose what to publish and what not to, you should band together and start your own social media platform where you can decide what to publish and what not to.

 

I'm sure with a little bit of effort you'll find enough people who think the same as you to fund it. The internet is full of crowd funding sites where you can start.

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