Weekly Filet #238: How Facebook arbitrates free speech. And more.
1. Facebook’s Secret Censorship Rules Protect White Men from Hate Speech But Not Black Children (Pro Publica)
An important piece that sheds light on how Facebook decides on what is allowed on the platform and what gets removed. It has been shared widely and also been used as proof that Facebook is actively discriminating and opressing voices (the title of the piece certainly sets the tone). I think that's wrong. Facebook deals with billions and billions of pieces of content every day and needs a set of rules that work across hundreds of national laws and cultural norms. That is a highly complex problem to solve. And while Facebook as arguably the worlds largest arbiter of human expression certainly needs to take more responsibilty, I don't think lazy, one-dimensional criticism is helpful.
2. When your father is the BTK serial killer, forgiveness is not tidy (The Wichita Eagle)
What it means to learn that your father is a notorious serial killer.
3. Glastonbury 2017 (BBC)
The National, Radiohead, Dizzee Rascal and many more. The BBC offers the complete sets of 89 Glastonbury concerts on its website (for another 25 days). Available only from within the UK (or, you know...😉)
4. Escaping the inferno (The New York Times)
A harrowing, meticulously crafted reconstruction of the fire in London's Grenfell Tower.
5. How Facial Recognition Works (The Wall Street Journal)
A short explainer on facial recognition that works with your own face. There's also a notable piece on the widespread use of facial recognition in China (the text is behind a paywall, the video isn't).