World’s most valuable AI start-up SenseTime eyes move into online censorship

China’s SenseTime, the world’s most valuable artificial intelligence (AI) start-up, has taken a big step towards fully automating online censorship amid reinforced efforts by the central government to crack down on content not consistent with “core socialist values”. 

The Beijing-based company, which is known for providing AI-powered surveillance software for China’s police, on Wednesday unveiled a product it claims can automatically screen out online videos that contain pornographic or violent images, as well as text containing messages deemed sensitive by the authorities.

“With more and more original content being created and published online, it is becoming impossible to use human content reviewers to take down all disturbing videos. That’s why we want to introduce the new product to better protect our next generation,” said SenseTime executive director Dai Juan.

The new product comes amid the Chinese government’s ongoing crackdown on “inappropriate” online media, which has included sexually provocative material uploaded by under aged users, as well as off-colour jokes and content deemed as vulgar. In recent weeks Chinese authorities have ordered online media to remove offending content and step up their self-censorship efforts.

The clean-up in China is running in parallel to a growing debate in the US over the role and responsibility of social networks like Facebook in policing free speech and content, amid wider concerns whether social media is exacerbating divisions in society.