Facebook is using artificial intelligence to identify posts on Facebook that may indicate suicidal thoughts or behavior in order to provide resources to those individuals. It analyzes comments for phrases like "Are you okay?" and flags live videos for review. If a live video is identified as potentially concerning, Facebook will provide crisis support resources to both the viewer and the video uploader. However, some argue that Facebook's approach threatens user privacy and that automated responses may not be helpful for individuals struggling with suicidal thoughts.

1. KennedyFisher

2. Facebook
 Artificial Intelligence technology
 Pattern recognition to identify posts that may contain thoughts of suicide
 1) Integrates suicide prevention tools to provide instant help through
Facebook Live
 Implemented in two ways:
 Initiated by a friend watching and reporting the video
 Initiated by results of analyzing the comments using pattern recognition
 Resources provided to both parties
 2) Looks for content (posts, comments, and videos) that can be linked to
suicide
 Comments such as:
 “Are you okay?”
 “How can I help?”

3. Facebook
 Tools offered
 CrisisText Line
 National Eating Disorder Association
 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
 Technology was found to flag live streams videos, that otherwise
would go unreported
 Currently being rolled out globally
 Except in the European Union (data privacy laws)
 European Union consists of 28 countries (Germany, France, Italy, etc.)

4. Ethical
Theories
 Kant
 Principle of Humanity
 Treat other people as an end, not a mean
 This case does not align with the Principle of Humanity
 Facebook users are being used as a means to achieve Facebook’s end goal
 Mill
 Aligns with the Principle of Utility
 Happiness is the pleasure and absence of pain
 The lack of privacy in Facebook users that is required to gather
information is justified because it allows Facebook to achieve goal
 End goal: Providing resources & helping users with suicidal thoughts

5. MyOpinion
 Flagging live streamed videos
 Can offer instant support
 Issues can arise from the use of artificial intelligence in analyzing posts
 “Are you okay?” “How can I help?”
 Commonly used phrases –Very general
 Could wrongly identify a Facebook user who is not struggling with this issue
 Everyone responds differently in moments of need
 An automated message may not be taken well by some Facebook users
 Struggling with suicidal thoughts looks differently for everyone
 Personal matter that some would not want a business getting involved with
 Power of technology
 Lack of privacy

6. Sources
 http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-is-using-ai-to-spot-
suicidal-tendencies-2017-11
 https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2017/03/building-a-safer-
community-with-new-suicide-prevention-tools/