Social media giant Facebook is considering putting restrictions on shooting Live videos in the aftermath of the Christchurch mosque shooting two weeks ago. The social media company received a lot of criticisms after it failed to take down the live video. The footage of the shooting was viewed 4,000 times in real time before Facebook removed it.
In a report by Bloomberg, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg said that a plan is in the works to change their review process to help the company quickly respond to similar videos in the future.
According to Sandberg, they are planning to consider criteria such as previous violations of community standards in allowing individuals to “go live.”
Taking a stronger stance
In the interview, Sandberg also indicated that they are investing better technology that will help them identify edited versions of violent videos and images and keep them from re-sharing the video. The Facebook COO revealed that they have identified over 900 different versions of the original. Sandberg also revealed that they are planning to remove hate from its platform and will use artificial intelligence in identifying and removing hate groups in Australia and New Zealand.
A report by the BBC revealed that Facebook will not implement any policy changes but promised to strengthen its rules in using Facebook Live. Sandberg also revealed that it will block any “praise, support, and representation of white nationalism and separatism. She agreed with calls that Facebook must do more. “
Heavily criticized for slow reaction
Facebook received heavy criticism not only from the Kiwis but from people around the world. The privacy commissioner of New Zealand calls their late reaction an “insult to their grief.” 50 people were killed during the horrendous Christchurch shooting and the video was viewed 4,000 times before being taken down. Most social media sites were unable to contain the shooting video, which was copied to the alt-right file sharing site 8chan generating 1.5 million copies in the process.
Facebook is working with the New Zealand government in the investigation of the incident. For their part, New Zealand Justice Minister Andrew Little said that they are working with the Human Rights Commission in modifying current laws which did not address “the evil and hateful things”seen online. He said that they will be bringing forward proposals by the end of the year.
Facebook revealed that less than 200 people watched the 17-minute live video and the first user reported it 12 minutes after the shooting.