Due to the Fappening scandal, where private nude photos of celebrities were stolen and posted online, Reddit has banned revenge porn. However, civil libertarians worry that this new policy may be too broad-based.
The policy stipulates that members cannot post images or videos of themselves in a “naked, sexually excited or engaged state” without their consent. Furthermore, it puts the onus on victims to prove a photo was posted without authorization.
Revenge porn websites have featured humiliating photos of women
Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, these images remain for private consumption. To combat this trend, Reddit has implemented several new features. Most recently, its transparent center offers tips and tricks for keeping Reddit secure. Additionally, this center contains a glossary of terms and instructions regarding their bug bounty program.
Reddit also has an FAQ section, which answers frequently asked questions, such as whether users can post links to their own sites. Furthermore, the site provides an online toolkit to help identify and avoid scams and tips on handling cyberattacks and when to check your computer for malware. Finally, Reddit’s moderation policies are detailed – such as how quickly content that doesn’t follow the rules (like pornographic material from youporn or offensive material) is removed; additionally, company security has been enhanced through new tools created to locate accounts and pages).
Reddit’s Transparency Center
Reddit’s transparency reports go above and beyond what many social media companies provide, providing extensive data on content moderation and global legal requests. Furthermore, it recently launched a Transparency Center as an information hub for safety, security, and policy matters.
Reddit boasts an extensive team of volunteer moderators and admins who vigilantly patrol the site for violations. Not only do they remove posts that violate site policies, but they can also ban users, causing community issues.
Reddit’s 2022 Transparency Report states that most content removals occur when users violate one or more platform policies. This includes posting content that violates the site’s terms of service, spamming other users’ votes, or displaying hate speech.
According to a 2022 report from Reddit, four percent of all content was removed – up from three percent in 2021. Two-thirds of these removed items were posted by moderators and admins. At the same time, the remaining third was generated by other users.
These figures translate to an average of eight content per hour on the site.
While not exceptionally high, it still represents a high enforcement rate, given there were more than 100,000 active communities as of 2022.
Reddit has an immense amount of content to monitor, so it’s encouraging that they take a proactive approach to upholding their rules. But it also serves as a reminder that moderators are not infallible and may make mistakes.
However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t trust them. As Allison Miller, Reddit’s CISO and vice president of the trust, put it: “Our community believes in cultivating genuine conversation on our platform.”
Brands of all sizes need to monitor Reddit and respond when they receive mentions or complaints about them. Doing this helps build trust with consumers, leading to more sales. Furthermore, brands can maximize the potential of Reddit by posting authentic, meaningful content while abiding by any laws.
Reddit’s Involuntary Pornography Policy
Reddit’s recent crackdown on revenge porn with increased permabans is a victory for victims. Still, they could do more to combat the issue. For example, their new policy directly responds to “The Fappening,” the leaked celebrity nude scandal from 2014.
This new rule prohibits posting any image or video to Reddit featuring a person in nudity or engaging in sexual conduct without their permission. Additionally, it prohibits sharing faked photos and any content that explicitly exposes intimate parts of someone’s body.
According to the policy, users who feel victimized by these posts must report them for removal. Unfortunately, this could harm the community since it places the burden of responsibility squarely on the victim rather than the platform and its audience.
Jacobs, a member of the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative, which provides resources to victims of revenge porn, noted this policy as a positive step. However, she cautioned against going too far in its implementation.
Reddit has long been known for its open culture. Still, its tight-knit community means any change can immediately impact the site. This was especially evident in 2012 when Reddit banned a subreddit featuring explicit images of underage girls.
The site did take down the photos from its service; however, it was criticized for taking so long to take action
In 2014, Reddit faced a similar issue when celebrity iCloud accounts were stolen and published there – leading to the nickname “The Fappening.” Unfortunately, it took some time for Reddit to address this matter.
Reddit stated that its new privacy policy was part of an effort to safeguard people’s “rights and privacy.” However, it added that after the iCloud hack, they had “missed an opportunity to lead the social media industry in protecting your privacy.”
However, this new policy has a downside for the Reddit community. Its effect heavily depends on media pressure, impacting the overall community and individual members affected by it.
Reddit’s Deepfakes Ban
Reddit has taken its first steps to combat the rise of nonconsensual deepfakes on its site, banning any posts featuring involuntary pornography. Furthermore, this policy extends a ban on posting photos or videos of people nude or engaging in sexual acts without their consent.
The new policy responds to the rise in fake AI-generated porn videos that have become increasingly popular on social media, and in sites such as pornoorzel, often featuring celebrities and YouTubers. These clips, commonly called “deepfakes,” serve as deceptive advertising.
Though these videos may not always be explicit, the technology behind deepfakes – including facial blending and AI to make videos appear authentic – has the potential for negative uses, such as creating revenge porn or spreading misinformation.
One such use is “revenge porn,” which involves posting humiliating pictures of former partners online. This practice has grown increasingly popular over the years, allowing individuals to seek revenge against their ex-partner by placing them in front of friends and family members.
This trend has given birth to what is known as “revenge porn creepshots.”
These videos depict images of women and men in intimate settings, often with their faces superimposed over them. Though usually meant for sex, some pictures can be pretty distressing.
On Wednesday, Reddit implemented new policies to combat such content. This ban extends the ban on posting photos or videos of someone nude or engaged in sexual acts without their consent and prohibits posting “misleading manipulated videos.”
The new policy is likely to impact many users. For example, some are uneasy with the platform’s decision to ban deepfakes. In contrast, others worry it will create a less transparent and “open” atmosphere on the website.
Additionally, the policy change could spark more conversation on Deepfakes on Reddit. There’s already a sizeable subreddit community dedicated to creating safe-for-work deep fakes using celebrity and YouTuber faces called r/DeepfakesSFW.
