Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
This new protection system works similar to the anti-child-porn detection systems in use at Facebook, and other social media giants like Google, Twitter, Instagram, and others.
It works on a database of file hashes, a cryptographic signature computed for each file.
Facebook says that once an abuser tries to upload an image marked as "revenge porn" in its database, its system will block the upload process. This will work for images shared on the main Facebook service, but also for images shared privately via Messenger, Facebook's IM app. Potential victims will need to upload nude photos of themselves
The weird thing is that in order to build a database of "revenge porn" file hashes, Facebook will rely on potential victims uploading a copy of the nude photo in advance.
This process involves the victim sending a copy of the nude photo to his own account, via Facebook Messenger. This implies uploading a copy of the nude photo on Facebook Messenger, the very same act the victim is trying to prevent.
The victim can then report the photo to Facebook, which will create a hash of the image that the social network will use to block further uploads of the same photo.
This is possible because in April this year, Facebook modified its image reporting process to take into account images showing "revenge porn" acts.
Facebook says it's not storing a copy of the photo, but only computing the file's hash and adding it to its database of revenge porn imagery.
Victims who fear that former or current partners may upload a nude photo online can pro-actively take this step to block the image from ever being uploaded on Facebook and shared among friends.
We won't be doing this. I don't even want to see hashes of you folks naked.
"Worried that an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend might post your intimate photos on the internet? Facebook says it has a solution – as long as you'll hand over the photos first.
The social media giant recently announced its new plan to combat "revenge porn," when individuals post nude photos online without the consent of the subject." http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/11/08/facebook-says-it-needs-your-explicit-photos-to-combat-revenge-porn.html
(Score: 4, Informative) by takyon on Friday November 10 2017, @04:55PM (8 children)
Facebook explains how it’ll review nude photos to stop revenge porn - Select company employees will indeed look at your nudes [theverge.com]
Actually, Facebook Will Not Blur the Nudes Sent to Its Anti-Revenge Porn Program [vice.com]
I give it up to another 24 hours (Saturday dead news cycle) before they apologize or quietly cancel the program.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 5, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Friday November 10 2017, @04:57PM (2 children)
I tried to upload a nude of myself but it was rejected because the file size was too large.
(Score: 5, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday November 10 2017, @05:25PM
I tried telling you that that much alcohol would fuck up your calorie count but did you listen?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 10 2017, @08:00PM
Are you sure it just didn't get rejected by the fugly filter?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday November 10 2017, @05:05PM
Facebook’s Tone-Deaf Plan to Tackle Revenge Porn by Having Victims Upload Nude Photos [slate.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday November 10 2017, @07:38PM (3 children)
So, if anyone at Facebook knew how to make a non-web based app, and any Facebook users were sophisticated enough to understand how to be relatively sure that the app is restricted from uploading by itself, they could make an app that would transform a photo into a hash and allow the user to copy-paste the hash into a web-enabled application that would get it into the Facebook database: to make this work no nudes need navigate network nodes.
On the other hand, how hard do you think it would be to fool the hash algorithm by editing said photo, say with a little unflattering spatial distortion?
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Funny) by GreatAuntAnesthesia on Friday November 10 2017, @08:41PM (1 child)
mod +1 alliteration.
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Saturday November 11 2017, @12:50AM
Nice catch!
:)
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday November 11 2017, @04:18AM
See my post in another thread about the clever photo matching site, TinEye.com It can find similar images, even with cropping and photoshopping.