Content Moderation
Ongoing coverage on Content Moderation.
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Morning Metaverse
The FCC has reportedly angered small carriers by allowing AT&T and Starlink to purchase EchoStar spectrum. Separately, Kickstarter has allegedly been forced to ban NSFW content due to demands from Stripe. YouTube is also evolving its TV app.
Morning Metaverse
Pornhub is set to become accessible again for some users in the UK following a ban. The BBC reported on the developments, indicating a potential shift in content access policies for the platform within the region.
Fortnite Now Hides D4vd Emotes by Default, Though Fans Say Epic Should Scrub All Content From the Game
Epic Games has hidden two in-game emotes in Fortnite that feature music by artist D4vd. Players are calling for the developer to remove all such content from the game entirely.
Instagram's recommendation algorithm will penalize 'unoriginal' photo and carousel posts
Meta's Instagram is updating its recommendation algorithm to penalize 'unoriginal' photo and carousel posts. Content creators, particularly meme makers, who do not make significant edits to their material may experience reduced reach on the platform.
"I Can't Fight This" - Popular Pokémon YouTube Channel Is No More After Nintendo's Copyright Strikes
A popular Pokémon YouTube channel, PokéNational Geographic, has been shut down by Nintendo due to copyright strikes. The channel creator, Elious, received four notices for animated videos that allegedly used Nintendo's copyrighted content, leading to the channel's removal under YouTube's three-strike policy. Elious plans to continue creating animations on an alternative channel, but they will no longer be Pokémon-related.
Epic Games commits to "immediate self-service refunds" for D4vd cosmetics after murder charge, but not to removing them entirely
Epic Games has announced immediate self-service refunds for all Fortnite cosmetics purchased from the artist D4vd, following his arrest on murder and child pornography charges. While refunds will be processed, Epic Games has not yet committed to removing the D4vd-related items from the game entirely.
In Kiln, Creating "Weird Little Guys" Is More Important Censorship
Kiln director Derek Brand discusses Double Fine's approach to player creativity and content moderation in the pottery party brawler. The game prioritizes enabling players to express themselves, offering moderation tools as options rather than limitations. Brand also touches on the game's development, its multiplayer-focused nature, and the support from Microsoft and Rare.
Fortnite Player Gets Banned for Having a Real Name That Triggers Discord Bots | HappyGamer
A Fortnite player named Klancy was banned from the official Fortnite Discord server because their username, 'Klantcy,' triggered an automated moderation bot. The bot flagged the first four letters of the username, 'Klan,' as offensive content without considering context, leading to an instant ban. This incident highlights broader issues with aggressive automated moderation systems in online gaming communities and the challenges of appealing such decisions.
Canada federal government concerned about children's safety in Roblox
The Canadian federal government has expressed concerns regarding the use of Roblox and similar platforms by violent extremists and pedophiles to target and recruit children. A Public Safety Canada brief highlighted vulnerabilities due to the platform's user-generated content and social features, noting risks of radicalization and exploitation. Roblox Corp. stated its commitment to safety with multi-layered systems, while also facing ongoing criticism and litigation over child protection measures.
Australian Government Demands to Know What Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam are Doing to Prevent Grooming, Radicalisation
The Australian government has formally requested information from major gaming platforms including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, and Steam regarding their strategies to combat grooming and radicalization. These companies are now required to provide mandatory responses detailing their safety measures.
Epic Games Reveals Staggering 778K Fortnite Moderation Actions in Six Months
Epic Games reported over 778,000 moderation actions on Fortnite in a six-month period, with cyber harassment and hate speech being the most common violations. The company detailed its use of AI and human review for various issues, including suicide-related interventions and predator actions against minors. This transparency highlights the significant challenges and resources required for maintaining online safety in large gaming communities.
Australia wants to know how Valve is combating 'extreme-right communities' on Steam
Australia's eSafety Commissioner has issued a transparency notice to Valve, demanding an explanation of how Steam combats 'extreme-right communities' and related harms. Valve risks significant daily fines if it fails to respond. Similar notices have been served to Roblox, Microsoft for Minecraft, and Epic Games for Fortnite, citing reports of grooming, terrorism, and violent extremism on these platforms.
Roblox is finally cracking down on illicit games as security continues to tighten
Roblox is reportedly increasing its security measures and content moderation to combat illicit games, including those with sexual themes referred to as 'condos.' This comes after the platform reached a $10 million settlement with Nevada over child safety issues and appointed Matt Kaufman as its new Chief Safety Officer. While some players welcome the stricter enforcement, others worry about accidental bans.
Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly pre-sold 500,000 copies on Steam a month before launch | News-in-brief
Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly achieved 500,000 pre-sales on Steam a month before its launch, according to Alinea Analytics, suggesting a potentially stronger debut than its predecessor. Separately, BAFTA has been criticized for pulling a trailer for the indie game The Quiet Things from its awards ceremony due to content warnings, with developer Alyx Jones expressing frustration over the decision and past similar experiences.
Morning Safety Dance
Anthropic's Mythos AI model has raised concerns about its potential to enhance hacking capabilities. Separately, Square Enix has taken action against a Japanese content creator for allegedly harassing staff working on Final Fantasy 14, marking the second such incident in two months.
DOJ refuses to help French authorities in criminal probe of X
The US Department of Justice has refused to assist French authorities in a criminal probe against X, citing concerns that the investigation is an attempt to regulate the social media platform through prosecution. France's investigation into X, which began in July, includes accusations of algorithm manipulation, fraudulent data extraction, and potentially CSAM dissemination and Holocaust denial. X and xAI expressed gratitude for the DOJ's decision, calling the investigation baseless.
The BAFTA Games Awards pulls indie game's trailer at the last minute, citing "the wellbeing of all guests"
The developer of the indie game The Quiet Things, Alyx Jones of Silver Script Games, expressed devastation after her game's trailer was removed from the BAFTA Games Awards showcase at the last minute. BAFTA cited concerns for guest wellbeing due to the game's mature themes, including discussions of trauma and abuse, stating they could not sufficiently warn the audience. Jones highlighted the lost opportunity for visibility and the personal pain of having her story about survival and being silenced be subjected to similar silencing.
Panic says the Playdate Catalog won't accept games made with generative AI
Panic, the company behind the Playdate console, announced that its game catalog will no longer accept titles that use generative AI for art, audio, music, text, or dialogue starting this month. While AI assistance for coding is permitted and will be disclosed, the use of large language models and AI image/audio generators for creative assets is prohibited. Previously approved games using generative AI will remain with a disclosure.
Meta isn't setting its Oversight Board free just yet
Meta's Oversight Board is seeking to expand its role beyond the company, exploring partnerships with AI firms. However, Meta has not yet approved changes to its governing documents that would allow for this. The board, funded by Meta, is also facing internal questions about its future and investment as Meta shifts its content moderation priorities.
Steam’s AI Ouroboros: Bots Now Review AI-Generated Games
The Steam platform is facing a growing issue where AI-generated games are being reviewed by AI bots, creating a meta-feedback loop that undermines the authenticity of user reviews. This trend raises concerns about the erosion of human voices and community connection within gaming culture. Valve may need to implement new tools and policies to detect and combat AI-generated content to maintain user trust in its review system.
