Copyright Issues Posted On Facebook Are Apparently More Important Than Violent Crime

When it comes to copyright infringements, Facebook Inc FB takes the offense seriously. The company recently invested in automated filtering systems to target and promptly remove intellectual property violations, which led to a crackdown on fan tributes and cover songs.

But evidence of violence doesn’t seem as highly prioritized. Even as Facebook quickly trashes songs and movies, media of homicides, rapes and suicides escape filters and boast surprising longevity.

On Sunday, the shooting of a 74-year-old man remained on the platform for about three hours before administrators pulled it, and in that time, multiple copies were shared. Unlike previous controversial videos, the broadcast was pre-recorded rather than filmed through the heavily scrutinized and notably unfiltered Facebook Live tool.

The company has long been criticized for its slow reactions to such graphic content.

The Accountability Debate

The proliferation of violent posts has inspired questions regarding the role of social media companies in addressing on-site criminal activity.

Some consider the platforms targets of convenient but unfair criticism. For example, they are demanded accountability well beyond what’s required of other communication companies.

Criminals use phones too, & we require telcos to offer lawful intercept. But we don't expect telcos to stop criminals from ever using phones

— Benedict Evans (@BenedictEvans) April 17, 2017

Others point to Facebook’s limited ability to track down sophisticated posts and offenders using artificial intelligence. The only thing it can do, as one New York Times Co NYT writer suggested, is wait out the scandals until the content becomes normalized.

(this is not at all new -- happened multiple times last year -- but i imagine facebook weathers these storms over and over until normalized)

— ಠ_ಠ (@MikeIsaac) April 17, 2017

Regardless of its circumstances or legal responsibility, Facebook has a public relations mess on its hands, and, unlike the company’s recently enabled ephemeral photos, it doesn’t seem to be disappearing.

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