• Home
  • About RSIS
    • Introduction
    • Building the Foundations
    • Welcome Message
    • Board of Governors
    • Staff Profiles
      • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
      • Dean’s Office
      • Management
      • Distinguished Fellows
      • Faculty and Research
      • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
      • Visiting Fellows
      • Adjunct Fellows
      • Administrative Staff
    • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
    • RSIS Endowment Fund
    • Endowed Professorships
    • Career Opportunities
    • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
    • Research Centres
      • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
      • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
      • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
      • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
      • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
    • Research Programmes
      • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
      • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
    • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
    • [email protected] Newsletter
    • Other Research
      • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Programmes Office
    • Overview
    • MSc (Asian Studies)
    • MSc (International Political Economy)
    • MSc (International Relations)
    • MSc (Strategic Studies)
    • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
    • PhD Programme
    • Exchange Partners and Programmes
    • How to Apply
    • Financial Assistance
    • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
    • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
    • Alumni
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
    • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
    • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
    • SRP Executive Programme
    • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
    • RSIS Publications
      • Annual Reviews
      • Books
      • Bulletins and Newsletters
      • Commentaries
      • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
      • Commemorative / Event Reports
      • IDSS Paper
      • Interreligious Relations
      • Monographs
      • NTS Insight
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • RSIS Publications for the Year
    • Glossary of Abbreviations
    • External Publications
      • Authored Books
      • Journal Articles
      • Edited Books
      • Chapters in Edited Books
      • Policy Reports
      • Working Papers
      • Op-Eds
      • External Publications for the Year
    • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
    • Great Powers
    • Sustainable Security
    • Other Resource Pages
    • Media Highlights
    • News Releases
    • Speeches
    • Vidcast Channel
    • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsis.sg
Linkedin
instagram instagram rsis.sg
RSS
  • Home
  • About RSIS
      • Introduction
      • Building the Foundations
      • Welcome Message
      • Board of Governors
      • Staff Profiles
        • Executive Deputy Chairman’s Office
        • Dean’s Office
        • Management
        • Distinguished Fellows
        • Faculty and Research
        • Associate Research Fellows, Senior Analysts and Research Analysts
        • Visiting Fellows
        • Adjunct Fellows
        • Administrative Staff
      • Honours and Awards for RSIS Staff and Students
      • RSIS Endowment Fund
      • Endowed Professorships
      • Career Opportunities
      • Getting to RSIS
  • Research
      • Research Centres
        • Centre for Multilateralism Studies (CMS)
        • Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre)
        • Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS)
        • Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS)
        • International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR)
      • Research Programmes
        • National Security Studies Programme (NSSP)
        • Studies in Inter-Religious Relations in Plural Societies (SRP) Programme
      • Future Issues and Technology Cluster
      • [email protected] Newsletter
      • Other Research
        • Science and Technology Studies Programme (STSP) (2017-2020)
  • Graduate Education
      • Graduate Programmes Office
      • Overview
      • MSc (Asian Studies)
      • MSc (International Political Economy)
      • MSc (International Relations)
      • MSc (Strategic Studies)
      • NTU-Warwick Double Masters Programme
      • PhD Programme
      • Exchange Partners and Programmes
      • How to Apply
      • Financial Assistance
      • Meet the Admissions Team: Information Sessions and other events
      • RSIS Alumni
  • Alumni & Networks
      • Alumni
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers (APPSMO)
      • Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO)
      • International Strategy Forum-Asia (ISF-Asia)
      • SRP Executive Programme
      • Terrorism Analyst Training Course (TATC)
  • Publications
      • RSIS Publications
        • Annual Reviews
        • Books
        • Bulletins and Newsletters
        • Commentaries
        • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
        • Commemorative / Event Reports
        • IDSS Paper
        • Interreligious Relations
        • Monographs
        • NTS Insight
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • RSIS Publications for the Year
      • Glossary of Abbreviations
      • External Publications
        • Authored Books
        • Journal Articles
        • Edited Books
        • Chapters in Edited Books
        • Policy Reports
        • Working Papers
        • Op-Eds
        • External Publications for the Year
      • Policy-relevant Articles Given RSIS Award
  • Media
      • Great Powers
      • Sustainable Security
      • Other Resource Pages
      • Media Highlights
      • News Releases
      • Speeches
      • Vidcast Channel
      • Audio/Video Forums
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • instagram instagram rsis.sg
Connect

Getting to RSIS

Map

Address

Nanyang Technological University
Block S4, Level B3,
50 Nanyang Avenue,
Singapore 639798

View location on Google maps Click here for directions to RSIS

Get in Touch

    Connect with Us

      rsis.ntu
      rsis_ntu
      rsisntu
    RSISVideoCast RSISVideoCast rsisvideocast
      school/rsis-ntu
    instagram instagram rsis.sg
      RSS
    Subscribe to RSIS Publications
    Subscribe to RSIS Events

    RSIS Intranet

    S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Think Tank and Graduate School Ponder The Improbable Since 1966
    Nanyang Technological University Nanyang Technological University

    Skip to content

     
    • RSIS
    • Publication
    • RSIS Publications
    • CO16168 | Real-time Video Streaming and its Security Concerns
    • Annual Reviews
    • Books
    • Bulletins and Newsletters
    • Commentaries
    • Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses
    • Commemorative / Event Reports
    • IDSS Paper
    • Interreligious Relations
    • Monographs
    • NTS Insight
    • Policy Reports
    • Working Papers
    • RSIS Publications for the Year

    CO16168 | Real-time Video Streaming and its Security Concerns
    Dymples Leong

    05 July 2016

    download pdf
    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Synopsis

    The recent real-time broadcast of an attack on a French police commander  on Facebook Live has raised concerns that others may be  inspired to emulate such attacks in future, highlighting the ever-growing security conundrum for social media companies.

    Commentary

    THE RECENT attack of a French police commander and his partner by Larossi Abballa, an individual known to French authorities as an Islamist extremist and the  simultaneous screening  of the attack on Facebook Live, was the first instance in which the video of a terror act was live streamed  on a social media platform.
    Such an attack has once again turned the spotlight on social media platforms and their abuse by certain individuals for various nefarious purposes and the renewed calls for social media companies such as Facebook to do more to reduce the avenues and platforms for hate speech and terror.

    Going Live

    Initially open to celebrities and media practitioners, Facebook Live was expanded for all users in March 2016. Used by many from politicians sharing snippets of their lives with supporters, to podcasting political debates and companies promoting content marketing efforts, Facebook Live allows users to broadcast live videos to followers, in real-time. Research from Facebook demonstrated that the amount of time users spent viewing live videos was 3 times more than a video that was not broadcast live.

    While Facebook’s idea of live videos is not novel (with competitors such as Periscope and Meerkat being among the early market adopters), live streaming videos is appealing to many companies and individuals; having the potential to connect, discuss and interact with 1.65 billion active users worldwide on Facebook enables the domination of the ‘attention market’.

    Videos that are broadcast cannot be edited or moderated, providing followers a sincere, honest, emotional and ‘raw’ aspect of content, as opposed to commercialised content curated videos. Users are able to track the instantaneous reactions of followers, providing an online video experience that is both engaging and immersive.

    Facebook, the ‘Online Global Police’

    Facebook has shown much commitment in removing offensive and violent content (such as content that glorifies or celebrates violence or terrorism) that infringes on their terms of service. Such posts are usually flagged and reported by users within the online community, with platform providers removing offensive content within 24 hours of a report being made. Experts agree that Facebook is one of the leaders in taking decisive action in responding to flagged posts.

    Having earned praise for its commitment to actively remove accounts which promotes terrorism, providing tools to counter violent speech online and by working with authorities, governments and the public are pressing for more. Governments have pressured the company into releasing all online activities of terrorists; and victims of terror attacks have attempted to file lawsuits against companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter, for allegedly allowing terrorists to use the platforms as tools for extremist activities.

    Although the chances of success for such requests are slim it reflects an increasing series of  questions and concerns about the role of tech companies and their participation against terror, and the constant urging by governments that tech companies can and should do more in monitoring, assessing and removing content related to offensive and violent content online.

    Dilemma of Live Streaming

    Live streaming videos present a different dilemma. Incidents of violence are becoming increasingly common on live-streaming sites. In May this year a woman in France broadcast her suicide in real time on the live-streaming video site Periscope as she threw herself in front of a moving train, and a teenaged girl was accused of broadcasting her friend’s alleged rape on Periscope.
    Unlike a television network, the same attributes of Facebook Live’s popularity limits the company from identifying, disrupting or removing offensive or undesirable videos before it goes live. While Abballa’s video was removed and profile account deactivated by the company, what is not known is the number of people who had viewed the video before its deactivation.

    The video, while removed from Facebook, continues to be circulated and shared on closed sites and private channels in other mediums. There are also concerns that others may be similarly inspired to broadcast future attacks in like manner, creating further conundrums for social media companies.

    The inclusion of children in ISIS Nusantara propaganda outreach is indeed worrying as it marks a progressive milestone for ISIS’ ultimate realisation of a relentless and unforgiving world that would rob the children of their own innocence.

    The Future is Video

    Following the aftermath of the Paris shooting, Facebook stated that it was in the midst of expanding its live video review team, exploring the review of video broadcasts that are viral before they are flagged by users, and investigating the possibility of using AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools to interpret and classify live videos in real time.

    While these measures will not ultimately deter individuals from abusing the platform’s tools for nefarious purposes, it does create significant barriers to these videos from garnering greater publicity and becoming viral, significantly reducing reach and denying these individuals the global attention they crave.

    The tech industry is increasingly shifting focus to find ways to enhance video offerings such as incorporating machine learning and neural algorithms on various platforms. Facebook has predicted that the written word will be rendered obsolete on the platform, with video trouncing it as the go-to communication on the web. With Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg believing that the future of the social media platform lies in video, it seems like the debate of protecting freedom of expression and ensuring that the platform remains a safe and secure avenue for users will only intensify in the years to come.

    About the Author

    Dymples Leong is a Research Analyst at the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

    Categories: Commentaries / Non-Traditional Security / Terrorism Studies / Europe / Global / Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

    Last updated on 08/07/2016

    RSIS Commentary is a platform to provide timely and, where appropriate, policy-relevant commentary and analysis of topical and contemporary issues. The authors’ views are their own and do not represent the official position of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU. These commentaries may be reproduced with prior permission from RSIS and due credit to the author(s) and RSIS. Please email to Editor RSIS Commentary at [email protected].

    Synopsis

    The recent real-time broadcast of an attack on a French police commander  on Facebook Live has raised concerns that others may be  inspired to emulate such attacks in future, highlighting the ever-growing security conundrum for social media companies.

    Commentary

    THE RECENT attack of a French police commander and his partner by Larossi Abballa, an individual known to French authorities as an Islamist extremist and the  simultaneous screening  of the attack on Facebook Live, was the first instance in which the video of a terror act was live streamed  on a social media platform.
    Such an attack has once again turned the spotlight on social media platforms and their abuse by certain individuals for various nefarious purposes and the renewed calls for social media companies such as Facebook to do more to reduce the avenues and platforms for hate speech and terror.

    Going Live

    Initially open to celebrities and media practitioners, Facebook Live was expanded for all users in March 2016. Used by many from politicians sharing snippets of their lives with supporters, to podcasting political debates and companies promoting content marketing efforts, Facebook Live allows users to broadcast live videos to followers, in real-time. Research from Facebook demonstrated that the amount of time users spent viewing live videos was 3 times more than a video that was not broadcast live.

    While Facebook’s idea of live videos is not novel (with competitors such as Periscope and Meerkat being among the early market adopters), live streaming videos is appealing to many companies and individuals; having the potential to connect, discuss and interact with 1.65 billion active users worldwide on Facebook enables the domination of the ‘attention market’.

    Videos that are broadcast cannot be edited or moderated, providing followers a sincere, honest, emotional and ‘raw’ aspect of content, as opposed to commercialised content curated videos. Users are able to track the instantaneous reactions of followers, providing an online video experience that is both engaging and immersive.

    Facebook, the ‘Online Global Police’

    Facebook has shown much commitment in removing offensive and violent content (such as content that glorifies or celebrates violence or terrorism) that infringes on their terms of service. Such posts are usually flagged and reported by users within the online community, with platform providers removing offensive content within 24 hours of a report being made. Experts agree that Facebook is one of the leaders in taking decisive action in responding to flagged posts.

    Having earned praise for its commitment to actively remove accounts which promotes terrorism, providing tools to counter violent speech online and by working with authorities, governments and the public are pressing for more. Governments have pressured the company into releasing all online activities of terrorists; and victims of terror attacks have attempted to file lawsuits against companies such as Facebook, Google and Twitter, for allegedly allowing terrorists to use the platforms as tools for extremist activities.

    Although the chances of success for such requests are slim it reflects an increasing series of  questions and concerns about the role of tech companies and their participation against terror, and the constant urging by governments that tech companies can and should do more in monitoring, assessing and removing content related to offensive and violent content online.

    Dilemma of Live Streaming

    Live streaming videos present a different dilemma. Incidents of violence are becoming increasingly common on live-streaming sites. In May this year a woman in France broadcast her suicide in real time on the live-streaming video site Periscope as she threw herself in front of a moving train, and a teenaged girl was accused of broadcasting her friend’s alleged rape on Periscope.
    Unlike a television network, the same attributes of Facebook Live’s popularity limits the company from identifying, disrupting or removing offensive or undesirable videos before it goes live. While Abballa’s video was removed and profile account deactivated by the company, what is not known is the number of people who had viewed the video before its deactivation.

    The video, while removed from Facebook, continues to be circulated and shared on closed sites and private channels in other mediums. There are also concerns that others may be similarly inspired to broadcast future attacks in like manner, creating further conundrums for social media companies.

    The inclusion of children in ISIS Nusantara propaganda outreach is indeed worrying as it marks a progressive milestone for ISIS’ ultimate realisation of a relentless and unforgiving world that would rob the children of their own innocence.

    The Future is Video

    Following the aftermath of the Paris shooting, Facebook stated that it was in the midst of expanding its live video review team, exploring the review of video broadcasts that are viral before they are flagged by users, and investigating the possibility of using AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools to interpret and classify live videos in real time.

    While these measures will not ultimately deter individuals from abusing the platform’s tools for nefarious purposes, it does create significant barriers to these videos from garnering greater publicity and becoming viral, significantly reducing reach and denying these individuals the global attention they crave.

    The tech industry is increasingly shifting focus to find ways to enhance video offerings such as incorporating machine learning and neural algorithms on various platforms. Facebook has predicted that the written word will be rendered obsolete on the platform, with video trouncing it as the go-to communication on the web. With Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg believing that the future of the social media platform lies in video, it seems like the debate of protecting freedom of expression and ensuring that the platform remains a safe and secure avenue for users will only intensify in the years to come.

    About the Author

    Dymples Leong is a Research Analyst at the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

    Categories: Commentaries / Non-Traditional Security / Terrorism Studies

    Last updated on 08/07/2016

    Back to top

    Terms of Use | Privacy Statement
    Copyright © S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. All rights reserved.
    This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. By continuing, you are agreeing to the use of cookies on your device as described in our privacy policy. Learn more
    OK
    Latest Book
    CO16168 | Real-time Video Streaming and its Security Concerns

    Synopsis

    The recent real-time broadcast of an attack on a French police commander  on Facebook Live has raised concerns that others may be  inspired to emulate ...
    more info