I was asking, not implying any position on my part.
I don't think website owners should be prohibited from deleting user content as they see fit. But I do think the takedown bots are different. They are mainly used to avoid lawsuits and to appease the RIAA/MPAA; websites wouldn't choose to use them if left to themselves. I think they cause as many problems as bogus DMCA notices and should be discouraged.
I don't necessarily believe the discouragement should be legal, but maybe. For example, if human oversight was required before the content was removed, that wouldn't necessarily restrict companies' ability to remove content, but it would minimize bogus takedowns by bots.
Again, I'm not really staking a position here, I'm just trying to start the conversation while I figure out my own views on the subject.
For example, if human oversight was required before the content was removed, that wouldn't necessarily restrict companies' ability to remove content, but it would minimize bogus takedowns by bots.
Sure it would; it'd make spam removal impossible, for example.
I don't think website owners should be prohibited from deleting user content as they see fit. But I do think the takedown bots are different. They are mainly used to avoid lawsuits and to appease the RIAA/MPAA; websites wouldn't choose to use them if left to themselves. I think they cause as many problems as bogus DMCA notices and should be discouraged.
I don't necessarily believe the discouragement should be legal, but maybe. For example, if human oversight was required before the content was removed, that wouldn't necessarily restrict companies' ability to remove content, but it would minimize bogus takedowns by bots.
Again, I'm not really staking a position here, I'm just trying to start the conversation while I figure out my own views on the subject.