Online platforms are willing to monitor and flag violence-threatening content for law enforcement, but user reporting is “essential,” Internet Association CEO Michael Beckerman told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday during a hearing on the Parkland, Florida, school shooting (see 1803090030). Alleged attacker Nikolas Cruz, who was active on Instagram and YouTube, expressed a desire to become a “professional school shooter.” Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the social media posts prompted the public to contact the FBI, but the agency never contacted IA members Facebook and Google. Grassley asked Beckerman what internet companies are doing to better monitor content and not rely so much on users. Company policies vary, Beckerman said, but there's uniform agreement on prohibiting credible threats of violence, terrorist propaganda and child exploitation images. Artificial intelligence is improving, Beckerman said, but user input is critical: “Internet users understand and welcome this responsibility, as our member companies receive millions of reports of potentially violating content each week.” He said AI is good at flagging content, but it can’t always decipher whether the images and content are actual threats or data included in a news story, for instance. Companies also have teams to review the flagged content; the third component is an active public.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., plans to combine the Music Modernization Act (MMA) (HR-4706) from Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service, and Important Contributions to Society (Classics) Act (HR-3301) and the Allocation for Music Producers (AMP) Act (HR-881) into one legislative package to be introduced Friday. That’s according to a senior House Republican aide and an industry official.
Online platforms are willing to monitor and flag violence-threatening content for law enforcement, but user reporting is “essential,” Internet Association CEO Michael Beckerman told the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday during a hearing on the Parkland, Florida, school shooting (see 1803090030). Alleged attacker Nikolas Cruz, who was active on Instagram and YouTube, expressed a desire to become a “professional school shooter.” Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said the social media posts prompted the public to contact the FBI, but the agency never contacted IA members Facebook and Google. Grassley asked Beckerman what internet companies are doing to better monitor content and not rely so much on users. Company policies vary, Beckerman said, but there's uniform agreement on prohibiting credible threats of violence, terrorist propaganda and child exploitation images. Artificial intelligence is improving, Beckerman said, but user input is critical: “Internet users understand and welcome this responsibility, as our member companies receive millions of reports of potentially violating content each week.” He said AI is good at flagging content, but it can’t always decipher whether the images and content are actual threats or data included in a news story, for instance. Companies also have teams to review the flagged content; the third component is an active public.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., plans to combine the Music Modernization Act (MMA) (HR-4706) from Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service, and Important Contributions to Society (Classics) Act (HR-3301) and the Allocation for Music Producers (AMP) Act (HR-881) into one legislative package to be introduced Friday. That’s according to a senior House Republican aide and an industry official.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., plans to combine the Music Modernization Act (MMA) (HR-4706) from Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the Compensating Legacy Artists for their Songs, Service, and Important Contributions to Society (Classics) Act (HR-3301) and the Allocation for Music Producers (AMP) Act (HR-881) into one legislative package to be introduced Friday. That’s according to a senior House Republican aide and an industry official.
Autonomous vehicles will make American roads safer and less congested, government officials, industry representatives and academics said Tuesday. Speaking at an event in Washington hosted by Arizona State University, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assistant Policy Counsel-Chamber Technology Engagement Center Jordan Crenshaw said 94 percent of motor vehicle accidents are caused by human error. Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Director Eric Anderson said crashes undercut the capacity of the Phoenix area’s transportation system. Anderson said he began “drinking the Kool-Aid” two years ago and is excited about the safety and infrastructure benefits of autonomous vehicles. Phoenix can reduce its need for roadway capacity expansion by planning for the technology, he said.
Autonomous vehicles will make American roads safer and less congested, government officials, industry representatives and academics said Tuesday. Speaking at an event in Washington hosted by Arizona State University, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assistant Policy Counsel-Chamber Technology Engagement Center Jordan Crenshaw said 94 percent of motor vehicle accidents are caused by human error. Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Director Eric Anderson said crashes undercut the capacity of the Phoenix area’s transportation system. Anderson said he began “drinking the Kool-Aid” two years ago and is excited about the safety and infrastructure benefits of autonomous vehicles. Phoenix can reduce its need for roadway capacity expansion by planning for the technology, he said.
Autonomous vehicles will make American roads safer and less congested, government officials, industry representatives and academics said Tuesday. Speaking at an event in Washington hosted by Arizona State University, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Assistant Policy Counsel-Chamber Technology Engagement Center Jordan Crenshaw said 94 percent of motor vehicle accidents are caused by human error. Maricopa Association of Governments Transportation Director Eric Anderson said crashes undercut the capacity of the Phoenix area’s transportation system. Anderson said he began “drinking the Kool-Aid” two years ago and is excited about the safety and infrastructure benefits of autonomous vehicles. Phoenix can reduce its need for roadway capacity expansion by planning for the technology, he said.
Tech stakeholders remain divided over anti-sex trafficking legislation the Senate is poised to vote on this week, those on both sides told us. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, author of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) (S-1693) (see 1803020024) plans to pursue the House-approved version of the bill, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) (HR-1865). Facebook and the Internet Association support the House measure, but several tech groups remain concerned about the process in which the bills were combined in the House, and fearful the legislation will result in widespread censorship of content.
Tech stakeholders remain divided over anti-sex trafficking legislation the Senate is poised to vote on this week, those on both sides told us. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, author of the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA) (S-1693) (see 1803020024) plans to pursue the House-approved version of the bill, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA) (HR-1865). Facebook and the Internet Association support the House measure, but several tech groups remain concerned about the process in which the bills were combined in the House, and fearful the legislation will result in widespread censorship of content.