Facebook struggles to stop crimes from being live streamed

Source: 
Author: 
Coverage Type: 

Criminals are increasingly using mobile live-streaming platforms to document their offenses in real-time. Social networks are facing an uphill battle in stopping them. A deadly stabbing in Magnanville, a town northwest of Paris, June 13 is the latest example. Facebook says it's working with French authorities on the case, which involves a terrorist who killed a French police officer and his partner. He live-streamed the aftermath on Facebook. "Terrorists and acts of terrorism have no place on Facebook," the company said. "Whenever terrorist content is reported we remove it as quickly as possible. We treat take-down requests by law enforcement with the highest urgency."

Facebook relies mostly on its users to flag posts that violate terms of services. The company also has employees who monitor the most popular live videos so that action can be taken more quickly. Anyone can shoot and broadcast live video to Facebook through the smartphone app. When the live stream ends, Facebook saves and posts the video to a user's Timeline. But this medium's live nature can be problematic when people broadcast disturbing scenes. Facebook acknowledged the challenges of stopping these incidents from being broadcast live earlier in 2016.


Facebook struggles to stop crimes from being live streamed For the first time, an alleged terrorist has broadcast a confession in real time on Facebook Live (Washington Post)