'Freebooting' gets the boot: Will Facebook eliminate pirated videos?
Facebook is reworking its system to remove the countless 'freebooting' (copyright-infringing) videos that users upload every day. Will it be enough?
Facebook is introducing new tools to stop videos from being uploaded to its site without permission from content creators.
Rick Wilking/Reuters/File
Facebook has finally answered the calls of video publishers to fight pirated content.
In a more assertive attempt to eradicate "freebooting" 鈥� a process of reposting videos from elsewhere on the web without permission 鈥� Facebook said last week it will improve Audible Magic, its current audio fingerprinting software that helps identify unauthorized videos before they鈥檙e uploaded to the site, and develop new software as well.
"We can be doing a better job," acknowledged the company in a .
Facebook is聽 that would allow creators to identify if and when a user steals their content, reported 海角大神's Jeff Ward-Bailey. The setup,聽 Content ID system, is currently being tested by a group of media partners, reports Mashable.
Since its video platform has taken off in the last year 鈥� delivering up to 鈥� Facebook has faced public outcry over a lack of oversight on pirated content. At best, the company is聽, say critics. At worst, Facebook is artificially inflating its reach via聽"," says YouTube video creator Hank Green.
Unsurprisingly, much of Facebook's strength as a video host comes in its shareability. Almost 73 percent of the site's most popular videos were posted without the original creators鈥� permission, according to a much-cited .
"That鈥檚 a problem for content creators, who can鈥檛 make money off their stuff if it鈥檚 been stolen and uploaded. But it鈥檚 also a problem for Facebook, which will need those creators if it wants to host videos viewers actually want to watch," reported . "Advertisers, after all, want to be where the viewers are."
In addition to enhancing its piracy recognition tools, Facebook has also vowed to target users whose IP addresses identify them as "repeat infringers," though it鈥檚 not clear how fast it would be able to keep up with them.
George Strompolos, who founded the media company Fullscreen and had repeatedly for its handling of video, 聽he is optimistic about the new system.
"This is no small task, but it can be done, and we're encouraged by Facebook's early progress," he said.