Facebook has announced via its official blog post that it has started taking required steps towards cracking down on video piracy. With the extensive user base that Facebook has, it is difficult for Facebook's content curators to cut down on objectionable, pirated videos. According to its blog post, Facebook is working on a new video matching technique which will help it, and creators of videos, in tracking the pirated videos uploaded on the social network.
The new system is capable of scanning millions of videos quickly and accurately, and will be available only to a selected set of creators. The tool looks for matches of videos on Facebook pages, profiles, geographies, and groups. The creators can then report any of the matched videos to Facebook which they find unauthorized.
The company said that the beta testing of the technique will start soon, and will be available for selected media companies, multi-channel networks, individual video creators, etc. The system will be expanded to other creators in the coming months, depending upon the feedback received from the initial testers.
Facebook’s new video matching technology looks similar to YouTube’s Content ID technique that is used to prevent piracy on its video-sharing platform. The system requires a fingerprint or reference file to the copyrighted content in order to block pirated content automatically.
As of now, Facebook uses the Audible Magic system to look for such videos, which uses sound fingerprinting technology to identify unauthorized videos. In addition to this, Facebook said that it is also working in the direction of improving the currently used system. The company ended the blog post by admitting to the fact that this is just the beginning, and it will take time, but it is committed to providing a comprehensive video management system to the creators.