Why we need a review and societal educational program on the many 'auditing' videos that have surfaced on the internet.

 

With the growing rise of auditing videos appearing on popular social media channels, it’s time that social media companies acknowledge and take action on videos and channels that clearly breach their own terms of service when it comes to content that clearly promotes harassment and hateful content.

People like myself are concerned about videos and channels that are frequently uploaded and promote the following activities:

 

‘Auditors’ that often conceal their identities and turn up to public buildings or commercial premises to film the site and the staff, with no legitimate form of query or protest, or often under the guise of, and often outright refusing requests from staff and members of the public not to be uploaded onto the internet.

Where there is a clear breach of privacy, safeguarding ethics and is a clear exploitation of people, rights and freedoms in order to gain profit from social media or to create significant safeguarding risks.

 

More often than not, and usually recorded in these style of videos are denials from the 'auditor' of contact information requests, causing people to waste significant amounts of their own time attempting to find videos online in order to protect their personal privacy and safety, which in some cases have led to further harassment of the persons filmed.

 

In much of this content style, laws are frequently being misused and abused by internet ‘auditors’ – in essence this is a form of psychological manipulation on the everyday person who may not be as educated on laws or the rights of filmmakers and photographers.

 

There are constant and numerous safeguarding risks in a significant percentage of these videos, which often act as a guide to provide tips and tricks for ill-intentioned visitors to a premises, and to gain unwarranted and unlawful access. In essence, opening the door for a breeding ground of criminal behaviour consisting not only of thefts and burglaries, but also a range of violent and sexual offences, as well as harassment, stalking, cyber-bullying and psychological abuse.

 

Who should lead and be a part of the review?

 

I believe that we urgently need some sort of a national/international review, and a societal educational campaign based around the phenomenon of exploitative social media content, including auditing channels.

In order to give a fair voice and protections for those most affected, the review should be led by those specialising in women’s and children’s rights, homeless issues, safeguarding and security, as well as those well informed on psychological abuse, stalking, harassment, repressed minorities and cyber-crime.

 

The review should also include representatives for, but certainly not limited to: Policing, teaching, public services and NHS, business ethics and security, social media companies, workers unions, filmmakers and advocates for the freedom to report, representatives for content creators, as well as general security/SIA staff.