How to stop illegal images on social media?
In the media image: Shutter Speed via Unsplash
Illegal images spread fast via social media. That became painfully clear last week following incidents involving teenagers in Dutch towns. Bart Schermer, Professor of Law and Digital Technologies, spoke to NRC newspaper about the role and responsibility of social media platforms.
In recent weeks there was much unrest among teenagers in the Dutch towns of Haarlem, Beverwijk and Heemskerk. Various secondary schools were forced to close their doors on Friday because of a conflict between rival gangs. Via Whatsapp, Snapchat and TikTok, violent images and rumours of a possible gun incident spread like wildfire. The resulting unrest was so great that the municipality issued an emergency order.
According to Schermer, a social media company is obliged to act when harmful or illegal content is spread via its platform. Within the European Union, discussions have been continuing for some time about the preventive scanning of citizens' chat traffic – a controversial plan. ‘Then the discussion becomes: what do we think is more important? That all chats can be monitored, or privacy?,' says the professor. ‘Either you accept that all kinds of filth and hatred can circulate online. Or that a government or company knows everything about you.’
More information?
Read the full article in NRC (€, in Dutch)