Moderating online child sexual abuse material (CSAM): Does self-regulation work, or is greater state regulation needed?

Bleakley, Paul ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2512-4072, Martellozzo, Elena ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1249-7611, Spence, Ruth ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6197-9975 and DeMarco, Jeffrey ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7160-2100 (2023) Moderating online child sexual abuse material (CSAM): Does self-regulation work, or is greater state regulation needed? European Journal of Criminology . ISSN 1477-3708 [Article] (Accepted/In press)

[img]
Preview
PDF - Final accepted version (with author's formatting)
Download (334kB) | Preview

Abstract

Social media platforms serve a role in the Internet age as crucial public forums connecting users around the world through a decentralised cyberspace. These platforms host high volumes of content and, as such, the role of content moderators (CMs) employed to safeguard users against harmful content like child sexual abuse material and gore is critical — however, despite how essential CMs are to the social media landscape, their work as “first responders” is complicated by legal and systemic debates over whether policing cyberspace should be left to the self-regulation of tech companies, or if greater state-regulation is required. In this scoping review, major debates in this area are identified and evaluated. This includes the issue of territorial jurisdiction, and how it obstructs traditional policing online; concerns over free speech and privacy if CMs are given greater powers; debates over whether tech companies should be legally liable for user-generated content and; the impacts (mental and professional) on the very CMs now operating as the new frontline against harmful, often traumatic, materials shared on social media. In outlining these issues, our objective is to highlight issues requiring further attention in order to best support CMs, and to enhance responses to harmful online content.

Item Type: Article
Sustainable Development Goals:
Theme:
Keywords (uncontrolled): content moderation; social media; online harms; child sexual abuse material; cybercrime; technology industry
Research Areas: A. > School of Science and Technology > Psychology > Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies (CATS)
Item ID: 38006
Notes on copyright: The author accepted manuscript is made available in this repository in accordance with the publisher's (SAGE) self-archiving policy for an Institutional Repository https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/posting-to-an-institutional-repository-green-open-access
Useful Links:
Depositing User: Ruth Spence
Date Deposited: 24 May 2023 16:03
Last Modified: 15 Jun 2023 12:36
URI: https://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/id/eprint/38006

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Statistics

Activity Overview
6 month trend
34Downloads
6 month trend
74Hits

Additional statistics are available via IRStats2.