Content Moderation Case Study: Automated Copyright Takedown Bot Goes Haywire (2018)
Furnished content.
Summary: For years, Google and YouTube have included a trusted flagger program by which certain entities that have shown they are particularly effective at notifying YouTube of content violations are given more powerful tools with which to do so.This is used often in the copyright context, and companies with a good history may be given access to things like bulk flagging tools and priority review of flagged content. One such trusted flagger for copyright was a company called Topple Track, which offered an automated service for musicians, searching the internet for infringing works and dashing off automated DMCA notices.In May of 2015, digital music distribution company Symphonic purchased Topple Track, but appeared to keep the service running under its own brand.
Among others, these notices improperly target:EFF published an article about this and noted that it seemed as yet another example of an automated DMCA reporting bot running amok. The group also questioned why such a company was in Google's trusted flagger program.Decisions to be made by Google / YouTube:Other targets include an article about the DMCA in the NYU Law Review, an NBC News article about anti-virus scams, a Variety article about the Drake-Pusha T feud, and the lyrics to 'Happier' at Ed Sheeran's official website. It goes on and on.
- EFF's case page about EMI v MP3Tunes
- The authorized music store on the official homepage of both Beyonce and Bruno Mars
- A fundraising page on the Minneapolis Foundation's website
- The Graceland page at Paul Simon's official website
- A blog post by Professor Eric Goldman about the EMI v MP3Tunes case
- A Citizen Lab report about UC Browser
- A New Yorker article about nationalism and patriotic songs
edit: Policy/auto___content_moderation_case_study__automated_copyright_takedown_bot_goes_haywire__2018_.wikieditish...