Removing on-line content and music from social media

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.025946

I note you seek access to the following information:

REQUEST 1:
Please provide the following:

1. Details of the Metropolitan Police's policy for making requests to social media and/or streaming companies for such companies to review and/or remove certain of their online content (e.g., threats of violence) on the basis of the content being or suspected to be unlawful. Please include details of the criteria followed by the Metropolitan Police to ensure that such requests reflect the Metropolitan Police’s duties to protect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression.

2. Details of the Metropolitan Police's policy for flagging to social media and music streaming companies, concerns of the Metropolitan Police formed by itself or in co-operation with other public authorities or agencies on such matters, about online content (e.g., threats to public safety) where the underlying content is not alleged to be unlawful. Please include details of the criteria followed by the Metropolitan Police to ensure such indications of concern reflect the Metropolitan Police’s duties to protect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression.

REQUEST 2:
For the purpose of this request, please read “Drill music” as including subgenres, and please read “Meta platforms” as Facebook and Instagram.

Please provide the following:

3. How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to social media and streaming companies asking for the removal and/or review of content involving "Drill music" ("Drill music content"), from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

4. Of the number of requests in question 3 above, how many resulted in Drill music content being removed from the relevant platforms?

5. How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to Meta (formerly, Facebook) asking for Meta to remove and/or review Drill music content on Meta platforms, from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

6. Of the number of requests in question 5 above, how many resulted in Meta removing Drill music content from Meta platforms?

7. How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to Meta asking it to remove and/or review content involving music genres other than Drill music on Meta platforms, from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

8. How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to other social media and streaming companies asking those companies to remove and/or review content involving music genres other than Drill music from their platforms, from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

REQUEST 3:
In the event that the Metropolitan Police's decision is not to provide us with all of the information in Requests 1 and 2, please indicate against each question concerned, whether this is because the information is not held by the Metropolitan Police or a third party on its behalf, or because it is considered by the Metropolitan Police to be exempt from disclosure and if so, indicate the specific exemption relied on.

Should the request exceed the relevant limit obliging the Metropolitan Police to investigate whether the information is held, or if you otherwise require any clarification of this request, please contact us so that we can work with you to re-frame the request accordingly.

Clarification -

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 01/FOI/22/025946 - Thank you for your message in connection with our FOI request with the reference above. You noted that the Metropolitan Police require further information from us. Our responses to your questions are as follows:

In relation to Question 1, you asked whether we are “seeking information on all possible reasons for removal of unlawful material or could you narrow the focus, for example to gang violence, serious youth violence and/or threats to public safety.”

We confirm we are happy to narrow the focus of this question to gang violence and serious youth violence.

In relation to Question 2, you asked whether we are “seeking information relating to all reasons the MPS may seek the removal of online content that is not unlawful or are you able to narrow the focus to gang violence etc?”

We confirm we are happy to narrow the focus of this question to gang violence and serious youth violence.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

REQUEST 1:
Please provide the following:

Q1 - Details of the Metropolitan Police's policy for making requests to social media and/or streaming companies for such companies to review and/or remove certain of their online content relating to gang violence or serious youth violence on the basis of the content being or suspected to be unlawful. Please include details of the criteria followed by the Metropolitan Police to ensure that such requests reflect the Metropolitan Police’s duties to protect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression.

No information is held. Each item of such material would be reviewed on a case by case basis and a criminal investigation considered if deemed to be in breach of UK legislation.

Q2 - Details of the Metropolitan Police's policy for flagging to social media and music streaming companies, concerns of the Metropolitan Police formed by itself or in co-operation with other public authorities or agencies on such matters, about online content relating to gang violence of serious youth violence where the underlying content is not alleged to be unlawful. Please include details of the criteria followed by the Metropolitan Police to ensure such indications of concern reflect the Metropolitan Police’s duties to protect human rights, including the right to freedom of expression.

No information is held. The MPS use specialist knowledge and expertise to identify harmful content. Officers skilled in this area can provide the necessary understanding of the context and language used in order for platforms to make an informed decision. The MPS ask social media platforms to take a robust & rapid approach to removing content which is flagged as being harmful i.e. likely to provoke/cause real-life violence.

REQUEST 2:
For the purpose of this request, please read “Drill music” as including subgenres, and please read “Meta platforms” as Facebook and Instagram.

Please provide the following:
Q3 - How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to social media and streaming companies asking for the removal and/or review of content involving "Drill music" ("Drill music content"), from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

286

Q4 - Of the number of requests in question 3 above, how many resulted in Drill music content being removed from the relevant platforms?

255

Q5 - How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to Meta (formerly, Facebook) asking for Meta to remove and/or review Drill music content on Meta platforms, from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

21

Q6 - Of the number of requests in question 5 above, how many resulted in Meta removing Drill music content from Meta platforms?

14

Q7 - How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to Meta asking it to remove and/or review content involving music genres other than Drill music on Meta platforms, from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

0

Q8 - How many requests did the Metropolitan Police make to other social media and streaming companies asking those companies to remove and/or review content involving music genres other than Drill music from their platforms, from the 1 June 2021 to the 31 May 2022?

0

REQUEST 3:
In the event that the Metropolitan Police's decision is not to provide us with all of the information in Requests 1 and 2, please indicate against each question concerned, whether this is because the information is not held by the Metropolitan Police or a third party on its behalf, or because it is considered by the Metropolitan Police to be exempt from disclosure and if so, indicate the specific exemption relied on.

This is already covered in 1 & 2