Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube? • Hacker News Board

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#21

Post by pasbesoin » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:30 PM UTC

It's a worn tripe, but, "What could possibly go wrong?"

At least it's "flagger" status and not the power to directly remove.

Still feels like a slip along that slippery slope, though.

Amongst all the rest, there is the concern about "notification" transitioning into "obligation". You, Google, can no longer claim you were as yet unaware of a particular situation; we (the UK government) therefore now expect instant response -- and response in our favour.

In other areas of law, I gather the situation and a party's obligation to act in some manner can depend significantly upon what they are and are not aware of. I'm concerned that prioritizing the requests/demands of a government known for censorship tendencies may induce or create an obligation to cater to those tendencies.

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#22

Post by jukvic » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:33 PM UTC

guylhem wrote: post #4

What if I don't agree with the UK government views on say freedom of speech? And why the UK government? What about giving that same power to the government of Afghanistan for example? From a utilitarian perspective, they could use that "superflagger status" to prevent the spread of videos that have lead to violence in the past. One simple example : http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/google-remove-riot-spa... Howev…

It would appear that they were threatened with even more drastic measures.

Brokenshire suggested that the government was also pushing for a "code of conduct" for internet service providers and other internet companies, which might include changing search algorithms to downgrade "unsavoury" content in internet searches.

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#23

Post by waterlesscloud » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:38 PM UTC

jukvic wrote: post #22

guylhem wrote: post #4

What if I don't agree with the UK government views on say freedom of speech? And why the UK government? What about giving that same power to the government of Afghanistan for example? From a utilitarian perspective, they could use that "superflagger status" to prevent the spread of videos that have lead to violence in the past. One simple example : http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/google-remove-riot-spa... Howev…

It would appear that they were threatened with even more drastic measures. Brokenshire suggested that the government was also pushing for a "code of conduct" for internet service providers and other internet companies, which might include changing search algorithms to downgrade "unsavoury" content in internet searches.

The time will come. Google is now under control, the control will tighten.

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#24

Post by rhizome » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:41 PM UTC

sesqu wrote: post #17

r00fus wrote: post #7

"Google told the FT that while the Home Office had been given these new permissions, the company still retained the right to decide whether they ought to be removed or not. Google's own user policy on YouTube forbids content that incites hatred or violence." So what does this really mean? So Google ultimately decides, but the UK can "recommend"? Without seeing the process in practice, it's hard to say if this actuall…

Reads to me like they gave a bunch of organizations access to a priority desk that screens flagged videos immediately, as a compromise between the normal flagging process and the takedown powers that some media companies have been given. It's unclear whether Google is willing to ignore the flags outside of special cases, but I expect we'll find out next December.

Surprise twist: Google policy only allows them to review the relationship once per decade.

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#25

Post by kaybe » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:42 PM UTC

magicalist wrote: post #13

CodeMage wrote: post #11

Does that make flagged videos unavailable only in UK? Somehow I doubt it, but it would really be cool if that were the case. Want censorship in your country? Knock yourself out!

That's what they do for removing videos in most countries.

Which is sadly a good thing for many people because there are non-hard workarounds if the video is visible in many locations.

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#26

Post by ajcarpy2005 » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:44 PM UTC

basicallydan wrote: post #15

r00fus wrote: post #7

"Google told the FT that while the Home Office had been given these new permissions, the company still retained the right to decide whether they ought to be removed or not. Google's own user policy on YouTube forbids content that incites hatred or violence." So what does this really mean? So Google ultimately decides, but the UK can "recommend"? Without seeing the process in practice, it's hard to say if this actuall…

It makes it sound like Google is humouring the Home Office a little. I suppose the point of the "super-flagger" status is that whomever has that title is known by Google to not be a troll, who flags wildly and arbitrarily.

You mean a government can't troll? :/

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#27

Post by vertex-four » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:45 PM UTC

guylhem wrote: post #4

What if I don't agree with the UK government views on say freedom of speech? And why the UK government? What about giving that same power to the government of Afghanistan for example? From a utilitarian perspective, they could use that "superflagger status" to prevent the spread of videos that have lead to violence in the past. One simple example : http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/google-remove-riot-spa... Howev…

> What if I don't agree with the UK government views on say freedom of speech?

Do as some are doing, and set up GNU MediaGoblin[0] on a server for yourself and friends.

[0] http://mediagoblin.org/

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#28

Post by ColinDabritz » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:45 PM UTC

r00fus wrote: post #7

"Google told the FT that while the Home Office had been given these new permissions, the company still retained the right to decide whether they ought to be removed or not. Google's own user policy on YouTube forbids content that incites hatred or violence." So what does this really mean? So Google ultimately decides, but the UK can "recommend"? Without seeing the process in practice, it's hard to say if this actuall…

It definitely sounds from the article that all this allows is that given their special "super flagger" status, is that videos they flag, whether one or "swaths", simply jump to the top of the "to be reviewed" queue. Presumably the same queue that normal individuals flagging videos use, and ultimately approved or rejected through the same mechanism.

So in a purely practical sense, basically "nothing changed" in terms of video accessibility, but the fact that it's special status alone might cause behavior to change just because they know a "super flagger" flagged the video.

Ideally for biggest "do no evil" effect, Google would hide the fact that a super flagger was the one that flagged this particular video from the reviewer, to allow an unbiased review.

I think it makes a certain amount of sense for government representatives, especially police, to get "direct service" for reviewing things that could be dangerous, or illegal. Perhaps a video on YouTube accidentally reveals the name/address of some in witness protection. I think it's fair for that to be immediately reviewed and addressed by Google. The question is, what other abuses of this privilege might it lead to? Might this open the door for not only fast review, but influencing the result of reviews?

Interesting ethical questions for sure.

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#29

Post by jukvic » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:48 PM UTC

waterlesscloud wrote: post #23

jukvic wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would appear that they were threatened with even more drastic measures. Brokenshire suggested that the government was also pushing for a "code of conduct" for internet service providers and other internet companies, which might include changing search algorithms to downgrade "unsavoury" content in internet searches.

The time will come. Google is now under control, the control will tighten.

Not quite:

Google told the FT that while the Home Office had been given these new permissions, the company still retained the right to decide whether they ought to be removed or not

Seems like an expedited version of the normal flagging function.

Re: Google gives UK government “super flagger” status for YouTube?

#30

Post by trevoragilbert » Fri, Mar 14, 2014, 5:49 PM UTC

"However, privacy campaigners will argue that it represents a further creep of censorship and surveillance powers exercised by the government over the internet, which will only become more extensive."

To be fair, I imagine that Google also believes that this represents further censorship creep based on previous statements by the company. Must be a lot of political pressure going on behind the scenes with this.