GLAAD’s Post

If you’re not yet following/subscribing to Tech Policy Press, it contains smart, well informed observations and analysis of current trends in technology and media, and how these impact on our democracy. This recent article sbout online incitement of anti-#LGBTQ violence and mass harassment is an excellent example. https://lnkd.in/ekYesE8z

Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch documented Meta platforms, Facebook and Instagram, as a vehicle for targeting LGBT people in the MENA region. Security forces have entrapped LGBT people using fake profiles and chats, and subjected them to online extortion, harassment, doxxing, and outing in public posts. In some cases, those targeted are arbitrarily detained, prosecuted, and tortured for same-sex conduct or “immorality” and “debauchery” based on illegitimately obtained photos, chats, and similar information. The new #SecureOurSocials campaign from Human Rights Watch and partners launching today, is calling on Meta to make its platforms safe for LGBT users. Among other asks, the campaign is calling on Meta to: - Disclose investment in user safety - Disclose no. & expertise of content moderators - Implement a one-step account lockdown tool Read the full report and take action at https://lnkd.in/eQTWxw5H

As part of our work to actively monitor accounts that spread anti-LGBTQ hate and misinformation, GLAAD has been urging Meta to address Valentina Gomez’s constant posting of hate, slurs, and threats of violence for months. Slow action, or at times no action at all, emboldens anti-LGBTQ activists to post increasingly extreme violent and dehumanizing content with the intent of inciting violence and hatred against our community. It is unfortunate that it took Meta months, and multiple high-profile posts with anti-LGBTQ slurs and hate, to finally make good on fully enforcing its own hate speech policies for accounts like this. Hopefully this latest action is a sign that Meta will prioritize enforcing its policies when it comes to disgusting lies, slurs, and calls for violence against our community. https://lnkd.in/enWSNyi5

Transgender as a topic is not new, but it is more open now and people discuss their opinions more freely, but there are those that disagree, and perpetuate the hate comments and downvotes (on Reddit) are ubiquitous as keyboard warriors hide behind faceless accounts and sometimes if not always perpetuating fake news. I still see fake news ads on Facebook about celebrities enticing fans and anti-fans to click just to farm their personal data. As someone who used to advertise often on Facebook this is a major concern, as netizens get more disillusioned by such ads that it doesn’t justify the ad spend with these platforms. And with troubles of bullying and fake news - I think that Meta really needs to clean up their act!! https://lnkd.in/gFZCP8Q8

As I shared with The Advocate on Friday, a policy is only as good as its enforcement. When a social media platform demonstrates unwillingness to enforce its own policies, or grants exemptions to high-profile users, that platform undermines the credibility of its guidelines and signals to bad actors that their conduct doesn’t actually matter. More here on X's latest approach to misgendering and deadnaming, and calls by the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD for X to promote the safety, inclusion, and free expression of its transgender, nonbinary, gender-diverse, and other LGBTQ+ users:

While we’re on the topic of LGBTQ-centric trust and safety; I am very interested to learn more about design features that forward those same aims. For instance, I’m aware that some form design practices can go a long way towards affording much needed dignity to transgender folk. There are also some features, like disabling screenshots and media downloads, which can provide added anonymity when needed. But that appears to be the extent of it. Given the present state of affairs for most queer folk online, that’s unsatisfactory. If there’s anything else out there in the works, in terms of LGBTQ-affirming design features and interventions, please let me know.

A recent analysis by Media Matters and GLAAD has uncovered alarming evidence that Meta is failing to enforce its own #hatespeech policy, particularly concerning the use of anti-trans slurs. According to the findings, at least 100 posts containing the slur “tr*nny” - characterized by the Cambridge English dictionary as “an extremely offensive word for a person who is transgender”- have been identified across Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, since March 2023. Key Findings: 👉 100+ Posts: The slur was found in text, images, and audio across Meta's platforms. 👉 23 Reported Posts: Out of 23 reported posts, Meta only acted on 1, leaving 22 still live, with one pending for over 5 months. 👉 Platform Breakdown: 75 posts on Facebook, 18 on Instagram, and 7 on Threads. 👉 High-Profile Offenders: Accounts like Steve Deace, Charlie Kirk, and Donald Trump Jr. were repeat offenders. Meta's lack of action is a clear signal that more needs to be done to protect the #trans community online. We must continue to hold platforms accountable for enforcing their policies and ensuring #safespaces for everyone. With the #SafeNet project, we are joining 21 partners to target online hate based on grounds including but not limited to racial or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. By sharing our #data & reporting #hatespeech, we are raising awareness to social media companies, and authorities and ensure that harmful content is removed by the companies. More info here: https://lnkd.in/dtf_u2um #HateSpeech #TransRights #LGBTQIA #InclusionMatters #DigitalSafety

Sunday Scaries 017 This Sunday is as good as any to discuss hate and persecution, right? Coloring eggs, bunnies, a timeless tragedy of literal biblical portions, centered around someone held to public humiliation and violence and death, resulting from a society unable to embrace a concept or idea. (Does the bunny lay the eggs?) When we broke for the weekend, WaPo (specifically Taylor Lorenz, author of "Extremely Online...") reported that GLAAD, a non-governmental watch group surveying media and online coverage and portrayal of LGBTQ+ people, released their report of Meta's overall inability to enforce its hate speech policies. Meta claims a commitment to fighting hate speech and foster a community, safe for LGBTQ+ users, and the implementation of their Hate Speech policy; but having a policy and enforcing a policy are two entirely different animals (like chickens and rabbits). Take the analogous example of everyone recognizing the importance of calling out and tagging a material connection between creators and brands in paid partnerships, but then practically going blind when it is time to monitor every single post ever made to determine compliance. Former agency clients have tried, and I'll say, it's like staring into the sun. Right now, the prevailing method is to do the very corporate thing: pass the burden on to the consumer. We're letting someone offend and harm you? Fight them yourself. We're actively producing and promoting someone problematic? Don't listen to their album, and hope that you cancel out everyone else listening (will that ever work?). We champion personal choice, except when the choice is to speak to the head cook and tell them that the selection at the buffet sucks (watery eggs, hardboiled eggs, rabbit stew). We prop these platform leaders up for all of their laudatory accomplishments, but must maintain the duty to call them out for biting off more than they can chew. i.e. not protecting everyone in their online space. Creators are in charge of building and fostering a community, preferably a safe and inclusive community. Multiplying that behavior (like rabbits), makes for a larger drove of safety and inclusion. Not all creators do this, and as the report shows, some are actively promoting violence and hate (is there an offset?). Collective good alone will not change the existence of dark alleys online (right wing rabbit holes), but maybe the platforms will take responsibility for those and not duck the issue (maybe duck eggs?). Until then, it's up to us: I have to speak to a chef about a rotten egg. #creatoreconomy #meta #lgbtq+ #GLAAD #RabbitEggs https://lnkd.in/eV9_EWqf

With the #SafeNet project, we are joining 21 partners to target online hate based on grounds including but not limited to racial or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. By sharing our #data & reporting #hatespeech, we are raising awareness to social media companies, and authorities and ensure that harmful content is removed by the companies. Check this recent analysis by Media Matters and GLAAD 👇

There's an ethical concern in the advertising industry regarding the misuse of data to target the LGBTQ community across various platforms. It's crucial to respect individuals' privacy and not exploit their sexual orientation or gender identity for marketing purposes. Utilizing LGBTQ media and targeted environments for advertising ensures a more inclusive and appropriate approach. Avoid data-based targeting and prioritize understanding best practices on LGBTQ sites to create a safe and welcoming advertising environment. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eKi5wC7s Learn more: www.q.digital