Facebook launches new tools to combat revenge porn

‘Revenge porn’ is the term used for when a person shares sexually explicit images of somebody without their consent. Unfortunately, this deplorable conduct is increasingly common online. Thankfully more and more governments are presenting legislation to combat the issue.

And now, platforms where the images are being shared have joined the fight. VentureBeat reports that Facebook has introduced new tools to target revenge porn.

Antigone Davis, Head of Global Safety at Facebook, stated in blog that the new tools were a part of Facebook’s ongoing efforts to build a safer community.

Today, we are announcing new tools to help people when intimate images are shared on Facebook without their permission. When this content, often referred to as “revenge porn,” is reported to us, we can now prevent it from being shared on Facebook, Messenger and Instagram.

Once an image is reported for possibly being distributed without consent, it will be reviewed by highly trained specialists. This should prove more accurate than currently available algorithms, although Facebook has had trouble with human editors in the past.

However, Facebook will not solely rely on people, as it will also use software to enforce bans on images that have been flagged. ‘Photo-matching technologies’ will scan through Facebook, Messenger and Instagram and throw out any images that have already been deemed to infringe community standards.

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The company will also extend its fight into the real world by partnering up with safety organizations that will offer support to victims of revenge porn.

Hopefully Facebook’s contribution will make a real difference in helping victims of revenge porn and limit the spread of explicit images without consent.

There’s been increasing public awareness about these issues, which is evident by the emergence of movements like #freethenipple, and Facebook has started pulling its weight.