FRACTAI has responded to the parliamentary committee inquiry on Technology-facilitated abuse
- What responsibilities should technology companies and online platforms have for preventing or mitigating technology-facilitated abuse?
Technically, after agreeing to their terms, and as a profit making enterprise, they have no responsibility to anyone to do so. What we are talking about here is a perceived ethical responsibility. If we accept that platforms mimic society, then a similar structure to society must be used, but it cannot be. Therefore, there is no requirement to prevent “abuse”. Especially where the term “abuse” is not defined. Some abuse is for authorities such as MI5, some could be for a chat moderator. Due to no time delay on platforms, there is no way to stop the abuse being seen even if it is subsequently removed, as people have already been subjected to it and will have recorded it. Currently the CQC and the government cannot keep the vulnerable, such as old people and children, safe in real life, so perhaps we should start there.
- How effective are existing platform policies, reporting systems and moderation processes?
Not effective. The automated services that are profit orientated often allow abuse but block others for no reason. This often has little human oversight. There is no definition of “abuse,” and therefore it cannot be policed. In normal society abuse is dealt with at personal level, and then an escalation process follows. This is not present online. Those in charge of “moderation” can commit abuses of power also. Therefore there is no fair or societally effective system to an undefined problem.
- How should tech companies identify and respond to risks associated with new products, services and features?
Once “abuse” can be defined well, then this could be examined properly. Following the FRACTAI development methodology involves scrutiny, and users which implicitly mitigates abuse – this is not an add on or an extra.
- To what extent does existing legislation and policy address technology-facilitated abuse?
We replied to the online safety act call for evidence, and we do not believe it is effective. Until this type of concept is understood as an implicit part of the development process, it will never be effectively managed.
- How can Government ensure that protections keep pace with technological developments?
Use the correct professional body accreditations and development protocols that have been developed by FRACTAI in conjunction with leading universities, leading industry partners and representatives from government itself. A huge amount of funding has gone into the above, so it should be used.
Find out more here : https://committees.parliament.uk/work/10015/technologyfacilitated-abuse/