Instagram's failed algorithms advertises its services with violent content on Facebook
Instagram is the latest entrant in the 'social media offensive content boosting' list which already contains its parent company Facebook, Google and Twitter.
Instagram's failed algorithms advertises its services with violent content on Facebook
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube had pledged their support to an EU code of conduct designed to crack down on posts containing hate speech but were recently, served one month ultimatum over illegal terms of service.
The Guardian's Olivia Solon recently reported how Instagram's failed algorithm used one of her post from a year ago as an ad to promote its services on Facebook.
The image consisted of the violent text "I will rape you before I kill you, you filthy whore" and in the subject she was referred as “Olivia, you fucking bitch."
Instagram in a press statement said: “We are sorry this happened. It’s not the experience we want someone to have. This type of notification is intended to let someone on Facebook know what their friends are up to on Instagram. Posts are generally received by a small percentage of a person’s Facebook friends. We are working to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”
Instagram was recently singled out by UK ad regulator for failing to label paid-for content. The news comes at a time when Facebook is already facing intense pressure after ProPublica's investigation found found that Facebook had actively solicited anti-Semitic ad buyers wishing to target users voicing anti-Jew sentiments.
Facebook executive Sheryl Sandberg expressed disgust & disappointment at Facebook’s hate speech ad targeting fail.
Just a few weeks back Facebook admitted that it had sold thousands of adverts to suspicious accounts likely emanating from Russia, which were targeted to widen social divisions within the US. It also received a dressing down from members of the UK government’s Home Affairs select committee over its failure to protect the users from hate speech.