US apps send thousands of private photos to Swiss police
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
Harmless vacation photo or criminal content? Swiss federal police need to make this decision thousands of times per year as US platforms send them images posted online and shared via private message.
This content was published on
1 minute
swissinfo.ch/sm
In an effort to combat child pornography, providers like Facebook and Google automatically screen all photos for the presence of children and bare skin. The algorithm detects the content whether it’s posted online or shared via a messaging app like WhatsApp.
According to the SonntagsZeitungExternal link Sunday newspaper, the Swiss federal police (FedPol)External link received 9,000 pictures last year. Of these, about 10% were of a criminal nature. The rest were ordinary photos, such as families relaxing at the beach. Critics complain that the automated system lacks transparency and accountability, and is tantamount to mass surveillance.
As a FedPol spokesman told the SonntagsZeitung, the innocent photos – along with any personal data – are promptly deleted. The suspected pornographic ones are forwarded to local prosecutors. The investigators tasked with screening meet with a psychologist twice a year.
More
More
Online child pornography in Switzerland on the increase
This content was published on
Campaigners against child abuse has expressed concern about a continuing increase of suspected cases of child pornography in Switzerland.
What factors should be taken into account when inheriting Swiss citizenship abroad?
Should there be a limit to the passing on of Swiss citizenship? Or is the current practice too strict and it should still be possible to register after the age of 25?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
Swiss government proposes lifting nuclear power ban
This content was published on
While the centre-right and the energy sector are welcoming the Swiss government’s counter-proposal, the Greens are threatening to call a referendum.
Switzerland provisionally signs agreement on EU programmes
This content was published on
The agreement on EU programmes covers Switzerland’s involvement in initiatives like Horizon Europe, Euratom, ITER, Digital Europe, Erasmus+, and EU4Health.
Record-breaking winter for Swiss tourism driven by foreign visitors
This content was published on
A survey by Switzerland Tourism suggests this winter has outdone last season's record, largely thanks to foreign visitors and favourable weather conditions.
Swiss study predicts rise in global antibiotic use in farming
This content was published on
Global antibiotic use in livestock farming could rise by 2040, says a study by FAO and the University of Zurich. Switzerland expects minimal change.
Initiative calls for 36-week parental leave in Switzerland
This content was published on
The initiative proposes 18 weeks of non-transferable leave per parent, to be taken alternately within ten years of implementation.
Over a quarter of Swiss Catholics consider leaving the church
This content was published on
In Switzerland 27% of Catholics have thought about leaving the church, according to a survey by the Sotomo research centre.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Almost 100 teachers are on schools’ black list
This content was published on
There are currently 95 people on a teaching black list in Switzerland, most of them primary school teachers, banned for offences of a sexual nature.
Up to 50,000 child abuse cases registered every year
This content was published on
Between 30,000 and 50’000 children who suffer abuse are registered by the child protection authorities in Switzerland every year.
This content was published on
Who will watch the watchers? Swiss newspapers have called on the government to keep a closer eye on the federal intelligence service.
This content was published on
When Defence Minister Ueli Maurer presented the government bill 12 month ago, he assured the aim was not to introduce exhaustive surveillance measures against citizens, but to weigh up security concerns and personal freedom. Under the proposed reform, secret service agents will be allowed to tap phone lines and the internet as well as bug…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.