Yandex Music will change the recommendations for publishing content on its platform. It will be checked by special algorithms and then manually by moderators, said in a Yandex press release.
The rules are based on recommendations developed by the service in conjunction with the Music Industry Association (AMI). “The recommendations relate to the handling of dangerous or objectionable content and should help streaming services create a comfortable and safe environment for listeners,” the statement said.
friend was created in April 2022 to develop a crisis exit strategy linked to the withdrawal of the majors from Russia and the reduction in the number of content distribution channels.
According to the new rules, Yandex Music content (and this is not only music, but also clips, books and podcasts) will undergo two-step verification – first with the help of artificial intelligence, then manually by moderators.
According to the initiators, this will accurately identify and mark adult content so that it is not available in children’s mode. Also, the service will identify content “on sensitive subjects likely to annoy listeners”, informs the press service.
“Depending on the nature of the content, it may be marked with special signs indicating age restrictions, excluded from recommendations or removed from the service,” the statement said.
According to Yandex, copyright holders whose content is subject to the restrictions can either “make changes to it and re-upload it” or challenge the decision “under a special procedure”. The company is committed to publicly reporting on the measures taken at the service.
“We are pleased that Yandex has supported this initiative and is implementing these recommendations in the operation of the service, and we hope that together we have managed to find a solution that allows us to define the limits of ethical and unethical content. Given the constant changes in the industry, we are open to cooperation and new participants to keep these rules and recommendations relevant,” said Valery Drobysh, CEO of AMI.
The authors of the recommendations expect other music services in Russia to apply them as well. At the same time, they will be advised by a council of experts specially created within the Scientific and Pedagogical Laboratory of Linguistic Conflictology and Modern Communication Practices of the Higher School of Economics of the National Research University.
According to the director of the laboratory, Professor Maxim Krongauz, the experts will develop criteria for evaluating the content, “with which you will be able to distinguish, for example, a real aggression from a creative technique, an image or simply characteristics of gender”. This is done in order to cut out subjective assessments based on personal opinion, perception and context, he explained.
Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications, Alexander Khinshtein also urged of their telegram channel subscribers to personally report to him on various “antics” on music services in order to “root” them together.
“I would like to believe that hybrid moderation will continue to avoid incidents when Russians on the eve of VE Day are offered to listen to downright misanthropic ‘rhymes’. Subscribers, if faced with such antics, can send them to me – together we will stamp this out,” the MP wrote.
He congratulated AMI and Yandex Music for such an initiative. “If the decision turns out to be effective, lawmakers and Roskomnadzor will not have to take strict measures for mandatory control and the introduction of heavy penalties,” he concluded.
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