Blocks

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In sed augue a urna viverra vestibulum ut a sem. Cras tempor nibh purus, nec faucibus ligula hendrerit at. Integer turpis urna, aliquet elementum nibh vel, porttitor mollis ante. Integer et massa vitae massa scelerisque volutpat ac vitae ligula. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nulla facilisi. Nullam euismod lorem ac maximus interdum. Morbi arcu neque, posuere at risus vitae, bibendum egestas erat. Integer nec varius felis. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In sed augue a urna viverra vestibulum ut a sem. Cras tempor nibh purus, nec faucibus ligula hendrerit at. Integer turpis urna, aliquet elementum nibh vel, porttitor mollis ante. Integer et massa vitae massa scelerisque volutpat ac vitae ligula. Aliquam erat volutpat. 

Nulla facilisi. Nullam euismod lorem ac maximus interdum. Morbi arcu neque, posuere at risus vitae, bibendum egestas erat. Integer nec varius felis. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. In sed augue a urna viverra vestibulum ut a sem. Cras tempor nibh purus, nec faucibus ligula hendrerit at. Integer turpis urna, aliquet elementum nibh vel, porttitor mollis ante. Integer et massa vitae massa scelerisque volutpat ac vitae ligula. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nulla facilisi. Nullam euismod lorem ac maximus interdum. Morbi arcu neque, posuere at risus vitae, bibendum egestas erat. Integer nec varius felis.

Real-Life Threat Detection and Escalation

The second pillar of Responsible Moderation involves the near real-time detection and escalation of content that represents real-world threats. This is especially important in the wake of legislation like the EU Digital Services Act and the UK Online Harms Act, both of which focus on removing illegal content in a timely manner. 

The surge in online threats like CSAM, extremist content, and self-harm or suicide content (whether the content endorses such activities or consists of users threatening to harm themselves) has amplified the need for timely identification and escalation to authorities. 

This is where the AI + HI approach becomes indispensable — and potentially lifesaving. 

Unlike human moderators who have limited capacity, AI can detect and flag this dangerous content in real-time, drawing attention to time-sensitive issues swiftly and efficiently.

With the assistance of AI, human moderators can concentrate on their crucial role — collecting details about the flagged content, confirming its potential harm, and escalating the matter to law enforcement and other authorities when necessary.

Along with employing technology to augment human work, platforms must build robust and battle-tested processes, establish relationships with law enforcement, and collaborate with organisations like NCMEC and INHOPE. 

At Keywords Studios, we are proud to share that, due to our expertise in escalating cases to the FBI, we have established a direct line of communication to their team that handles cyber cases. We believe that cultivating these relationships with law enforcement agencies is instrumental in creating safer video game communities, not to mention complying with legislation.

Moderators: The Secret Superheroes of the Internet

Perhaps the most transformative aspect of Responsible Moderation is the reframing of how we view and treat superhero content moderators.The role of a content moderator can be profoundly challenging and demanding. Moderators can be faced with graphic and disturbing content, which can significantly erode their mental health and overall wellbeing. In fact, recent studies have drawn parallels between moderators and first responders such as police officers and EMTs who regularly encounter indirect trauma.

Unfortunately, this reality has been ignored by too many for too many years.

Under Responsible Moderation, we see moderators for what they are — digital first responders. We recognise their analytical and linguistic skills, leverage their insights and expertise, provide robust wellbeing and resilience support, and equip them with AI-powered tools to pre-screen potentially harmful content, thus reducing their exposure to the most distressing material. This not only makes their work less psychologically taxing but also allows them more space to apply their human judgment where it is most needed.

A Responsible Moderation Call to Action

As video game platforms continue to grow and evolve (the Metaverse and VR pose new challenges that we must be ready to face), the stakes only get higher. The spread of dangerous and illegal content not only undermines the integrity of our game spaces but poses real risks to players' and moderators’ mental and physical well-being. It's a challenge that requires the collective effort of all of us — Trust & Safety professionals, game developers, content moderators, policymakers, technology providers, and players alike.

The journey towards Responsible Moderation will not be without its challenges. It requires a commitment to challenge previously held assumptions about the roles of technology and humans in moderation, an embrace of innovative thinking, and, most importantly, empathy and compassion. 

By adopting a Responsible Moderation approach, we can protect not only our players and communities, but also the superhero moderators who work tirelessly behind the scenes. 

This is not just a moderation revolution; it's a movement towards building a more inclusive, safe, and responsible internet for everyone.