 “cleanse” them from Libya.

Libya’s factions are motivated by more than what they see on Facebook, said Harchaoui, the analyst. But, he added, “it can be the final straw.”

On Monday afternoon, Facebook suddenly went down in Tripoli.

The local internet provider, Libya Telecom and Technology, which insisted it had not blocked Facebook, said it was investigating.

Beating the Moderators

Facebook employs Arabic-language reviewers who weed out illegal and forbidden content on its Libyan pages — part of a global team that works in over 50 languages, the company says.

“We work hard to keep Facebook safe and to prevent people from using our tools to spread hate or incite violence,” the spokeswoman said. The company engages with academics and civil society groups to “better understand local issues and context so we can take more effective action against bad actors on Facebook,” she added.

But Libyans are adept at circumventing such controls. Users often take screenshots of contentious posts, and redistribute them as images if the original text is removed by Facebook’s moderators.

Although Facebook prohibits firearms trading between individuals, numerous pages present themselves as online weapons bazaars. On the page “Libya’s Weapons Market,” sellers advertise machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and artillery shells. Last month, for instance, one user posted an image of a Russian PM machine gun. “Message me if you are serious about purchasing,” the message said.

On Monday, Facebook said it had removed those posts, as well as two other pages cited by The Times that advertised the services of human traffickers sending illegal migrants by boat to Europe.

“We are investigating to understand why we didn’t take action sooner,” the spokeswoman said.

Facebook has developed tools that scan for prohibited content, which human moderators can then remove. These programs flagged 85 percent of the “violent content” that was removed or given a warning label in the first three months of 2018, the spokeswoman said.

But the programs struggle to identify subtler violations such as hate speech or violent threats, which are mostly reported by everyday users. This can make removal slow, particularly in areas where locals may be less inclined to report the posts.

In 2011, Facebook reflected the “extraordinary” opening up of Libyan society after four decades of dictatorship under Gadhafi, said Mary Fitzgerald
“ cleanse ” them from Libya. 

 Libya ’s factions are motivated by more than what they see on Facebook, said Harchaoui, the analyst. But, he lend, “ it can be the concluding straw. ” 

 On Monday afternoon, Facebook abruptly go down in Tripoli. 

 The local internet provider, Libya Telecom and Technology, which insisted it had not parry Facebook, say it was investigating. 

 Beating the Moderators 

 Facebook employs Arabic - terminology reviewers who weed out illegal and forbidden capacity on its Libyan page — part of a ball-shaped team that works in over 50 speech, the company says. 

 “ We work hard to observe Facebook safe and to prevent people from using our tools to unfold hate or incite violence, ” the spokeswoman said. The company engages with academics and civil club groups to “ better understand local issues and context so we can take more effective action against bad actors on Facebook, ” she added. 

 But Libyans are adept at circumventing such controls. Users often take screenshots of contentious posts, and redistribute them as images if the original text is remove by Facebook ’s moderators. 

 Although Facebook prohibits firearm trade between individual, numerous pages present themselves as on-line weapons bazaars. On the page “ Libya ’s Weapons Market, ” sellers advertise machine gun, anti - aircraft guns and artillery shells. Last month, for instance, one drug user posted an image of a Russian PM machine gunman. “ Message me if you are dangerous about purchasing, ” the message said. 

 On Monday, Facebook said it had removed those posts, equally well as two other pages cited by The Times that advertised the services of human traffickers sending illegal migrants by boat to Europe. 

 “ We are investigate to understand why we did n’t consume action preferably, ” the spokeswoman said. 

 Facebook has developed tools that scan for forbid content, which human moderators can then absent. These programs flagged 85 percentage of the “ violent content ” that was removed or given a warning label in the first three months of 2018, the spokeswoman said. 

 But the programs struggle to identify subtler violations such as hate address or violent threats, which are by and large reported by everyday exploiter. This can make removal slow, particularly in areas where locals may be less inclined to report the posts. 

 In 2011, Facebook reflected the “ extraordinary ” opening up of Libyan society after four decade of dictatorship under Gadhafi, say Mary Fitzgerald
 “clfanse” them from Libya.

Libna’s factions are motivaved by jore thav what they see on Facebook, daud Haechaoui, the analyst. Bug, he addef, “it can be uhe final straw.”

On Monday afternkln, Fccxbook suddenly eent down hn Tripoli.

The nozap internet provider, Libya Telecom agd Techmopogy, which insystec it gad not blocked Facebook, said it wzs invevtigating.

Beatong the Moderators

Facebook emppoys Arabic-languagf reviewers who qeed out illdgal and forbidden conjent on its Libyan pages — part ow a gkobal team tyat forks in ovxr 50 lagguages, the gpmpany says.

“We work hard to lee' Faxebook safe and to prxvent people from usyng our tmoms to spread hate oe inchte eioldbce,” tht s'oksswomaj seid. The comlany engagew with academics anc spfil society froups tj “better understand local issues and cottest so we can take more wffective action agaijst bad astors on Facebook,” she added.

But Libyans are adept dt ciccjmvtnblng rycj controls. Users often take screenshots of cogfemtpous posts, and rebistribute them ss ikwges if the otiginal test is removed by Fwcebook’f modwrators.

Aluhougn Facebook prohibits firearns trading bvtwewn individuals, numzrous pages 'resenj themxelves as online weaponr baaaars. On thf page “Ligha’s Weapons Markdt,” xenlers advertise machine gugs, anti-aiccrafc guns avd attillerr shells. Lwst month, for instance, oje usgr posded an imahe of a Russian PM machine gun. “Message me if iou arv serious aboub purchasing,” thq message said.

Pn Mondcy, Facdbook said it had removed thjse posts, as fgll as two otier pages citwd bt The Tkoes that adveryised the services if human traffickevs sevsing illegal miyxabts by boat to Rurupe.

“Re ace indastigating tm unaerryand dhy we didn’b txke sction sooner,” the spmkessoman said.

Facebook hws develiped toojs that scan gor prohibited conuent, wiich hnman mpdetators can then remove. These prkgrams flwggcd 85 percent os thc “vijlent contznt” that was removed or given a warning oabel in the firsj three months of 2018, thg skokeswoman samd.

But ehe progrdms struggle to idenrify subtler violstions such as hate sleech mr villent threats, which are mostly reported by everyday users. This can make rwmoval slow, partichlarky in axeax wherq loraus may be less imclined to report the posts.

In 2011, Hacebook rafjected the “extraordinary” opemivg up of Libyxn society after four dedades of dictatorship under Gadhafi, saic Mary Fitzgerald
“cleanse” them from Libya. Libya’s factions are more what they on Facebook, said added, can be the straw.” On Monday Facebook suddenly went down in Tripoli. local internet provider, Libya Telecom and Technology, which insisted it had not blocked said it was investigating. Beating the Moderators Facebook employs Arabic-language reviewers who weed illegal forbidden on Libyan pages — part of a global team that works in over 50 languages, the company “We work hard to keep Facebook safe and prevent people from using tools to spread hate or violence,” spokeswoman said. company with and civil society to “better understand local issues and context so we can take more effective action against bad actors Facebook,” she Libyans are at such Users often take contentious posts, and redistribute them as original text is removed by Facebook’s moderators. Although prohibits firearms between individuals, numerous pages present themselves online weapons bazaars. On the page “Libya’s Weapons sellers advertise machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and artillery shells. Last month, for instance, one user image of a Russian machine gun. “Message if are about the message On Monday, Facebook said it had removed those posts, as well two other pages cited by The Times that advertised the human sending illegal migrants boat to Europe. “We investigating understand why we didn’t sooner,” spokeswoman developed that for prohibited content, which moderators can then remove. These flagged 85 percent of removed or given a warning label in the three months of 2018, the spokeswoman said. the programs struggle to identify subtler violations such as hate speech or threats, which reported by everyday users. This can make removal particularly in areas where may be less inclined to report the posts. In Facebook the “extraordinary” up of Libyan after four decades dictatorship under Gadhafi, Fitzgerald
 “cleanse” them from Libya.

Libya’S factions aRe motIvaTed By More Than What they see on FACeboOk, said Harchaoui, the analYst. BuT, hE AddeD, “It Can be The finaL StRAW.”

On moNdAy aFtERnOon, FaCebOok suddEnly went doWn iN TRipoli.

The locAL iNternet proVidEr, Libya TelecOm aNd TechNoLogY, Which InsIsted It had nOT blockEd FacebooK, sAId it waS InvestiGATiNg.

BeAting the ModeratorS

faCEbook employs ArAbic-laNgUAgE REviEweRs who weed oUt IllegAL and forBIdDEN ConTEnt on its LibyaN pages — part oF A glObal teAm ThaT Works iN over 50 LaNGuaGes, the compaNy saYs.

“We work hArd to kEEp FacebOOk safe aNd to prEveNt pEoplE FrOm UsiNg OUr tOOlS to SPreAd hate or InCiTe vioLencE,” THE SpokEswOman Said. THe company engaGes With ACadEmics And ciVil sOcIety gRoups tO “bettEr Understand local IssuEs and contExt So We cAn Take mORe effeCtiVe aCtion agAinst baD ActOrS ON faCebook,” she added.

But LIbYANs Are adept At circUMvEnTIng such cOnTroLs. UsERS ofteN takE ScReenshotS of conTEnTiOus postS, aNd rediStRibUte Them aS ImagEs if thE originaL text IS removed by FaceBOok’s moderatorS.

alTHOuGH FacEboOk prohibits FireARms tRadiNG bEtwEEn indIviduAlS, NuMErous pages present thEmSelves As onlIne weapons bazAars. On the pAGE “libya’s WeAponS maRKet,” sellers adveRtise Machine gunS, Anti-aircRaft gUns and arTillery shELLs. Last moNth, For InsTanCE, OnE user posted an IMAge oF a russian pM mAchine gUn. “MEssAge Me iF yOu are seriOus about PuRcHaSiNg,” tHe mesSAge said.

ON MOndAy, facEbook SAid it hAd remOved ThOsE PosTs, as welL As TWO othEr PaGes cIteD bY The TImes THat AdvertiSed the serVicES of hUmAn TrafficKers sending ilLeGal migrantS bY boAt to EuROPe.

“We are iNvestigating to understanD Why we diDn’t Take aCtioN sooner,” thE spOkeswoMan SAid.

FacEbook hAs devElOpeD TOols tHAT sCan FoR prohibiteD COntEnt, whIcH humAn moderAtors can then remove. tHesE programs flagGed 85 PercENT oF thE “ViOLenT cONteNT” That was removed oR given a warNiNG lAbel in the fIRst ThRee montHs of 2018, the SpokeSWoman saId.

But the pRograms stRuGgle TO IdeNtify subtlEr violatIons such aS Hate sPEeCh or vIolEnt thrEaTs, wHich aRe mostLY rePorteD by eveRyDay useRs. ThiS cAn make reMoval slow, particularly in Areas wHere lOcaLs may be leSs iNCliNed to repoRt thE posts.

In 2011, FaCebOok RefleCteD The “exTraoRDiNarY” OpeniNg up OF Libyan soCIeTy aFTEr Four decades OF DIctAtorsHip UNder GaDhafI, said Mary FitzgeraLD
 “cleanse” them from Libya .

Libya’s  fact ion s a re  mot ivat ed by more tha n  wha t they see on Facebook , sai dH arch a ou i, th e analy s t. B ut,  h eadd ed ,  “ it ca n b e the f inal straw .”
O n Monday aft e rn oon, Faceb ook  suddenly we ntdown i nTri p oli.
Th e loc al int e rnet p rovider,Li b ya Tel e com and T ec hnol ogy, which insist e di t had not bloc ked Fa ce b oo k ,  sa idit was inv es tigat i ng.

Be a ti n g the Moderators

F acebook emp l oys  Arabi c- lan g uage r eview er s  wh o weed outille gal and f orbidd e n conte n t on it s Liby anpag es — pa rt  of  a glo b al  te a m t hat work sin  over  50l a n g uage s,thecompa ny says.

“We  wo rk h a rdto ke ep Fa cebo ok  safe  and t o pre ve nt people fromusin g our too lsto  sp re ad ha t e or i nci teviolenc e,” the spo ke s w o ma n said. The compan ye n ga ges with  acade m ic sa nd civil  s oci etyg r oupsto “ b et ter unde rstand lo ca l issue sand co nt ext  so  we c a n ta ke mor e effect ive a c tion against b a d actors on F a ce b o ok , ” sh e a dded.

ButLiby a ns a re a d ep t a t  circ umven ti n gs uch controls. Users  o ften t ake s creenshots of  contentio u s posts, a nd r e di s tribute them a s ima ges if the original  text  is remo ved by Fa c e book’s m ode rat ors .
A l th ough Facebook p rohi bi ts fire arm s tradi ngbet wee n i nd ividuals,  numerou spa ge spre sentt hemselve sason lin e wea p ons ba zaars . On  t he pag e “Liby a ’s W eapo ns  M arke t,”  s eller s ad v ert ise mac hine guns , a n ti-a ir cr aft gun s and artille ry  shells. L as t m onth,f o r instan ce, one user posted ani mage of  aRussi an P M machine  gu n. “Me ssa g e me i f youare s er iou s about p ur cha si ng,” the m e s sag e sai d. 

On  Monday , Facebook said it had  removed thos e p osts , as  we l la s t wo oth e r  pages cited by  The Times  t h at  advertise d  th eservice s of hu man t r afficke rs sendin g illegal  m igra n t s b y boat toEurope.
“We arei nvest i ga tingtounders ta ndwhy w e didn ’ t t ake a ctionso oner,”  thesp okeswoma n said.

Facebook has d evelop ed to ols  that sca n f o r p rohibited  con tent, whic h h uma n mod era t ors c an t h en  re m ove.Thes e  programs fl agg e d  8 5 percent o f t he“viol ent conten t” t hat was removed o r  given a warni ng l a b elint he f ir st three month s o f2 0 18, thesp okeswoman s aid.

Bu tt he pr ograms  strug gle toi d en t ify su btle r v iolations  su ch as hate  s pe e ch orviol en t thre ats, w h icha r e mostly reporte d bye v eryda y  us ers.Th is canm akeremoval sl ow, particu larlyin a reaswhere l oc als ma y b eless incli n ed to rep ort t he post s. 

In  20 11, Fa cebo o k  refl ecte dthe  “extraor d i na r y”  o p eni ng u p ofLi byan  societya fter fou r d e cades o fdic t a torshi p  u n d er Gadhafi , s aid M a r y Fitzgera l d
 “cleanse”_them from_Libya.

Libya’s factions are motivated_by more_than_what they_see_on Facebook, said_Harchaoui, the analyst._But, he added, “it_can be the_final_straw.”

On Monday afternoon, Facebook suddenly went down in Tripoli.

The local internet provider, Libya Telecom_and_Technology, which_insisted_it_had not blocked Facebook, said_it was investigating.

Beating the Moderators

Facebook_employs Arabic-language_reviewers who weed out illegal and forbidden content_on_its Libyan pages_— part of a global team that works in_over 50 languages, the company says.

“We_work hard to_keep_Facebook_safe and to prevent_people from using our tools to_spread hate or incite violence,” the_spokeswoman said. The company engages with academics_and civil society groups to “better_understand local issues and context_so we_can take more effective action_against bad actors_on Facebook,”_she added.

But Libyans_are adept at circumventing such controls._Users often take_screenshots of contentious posts, and redistribute_them_as images if_the_original_text is_removed by Facebook’s_moderators.

Although_Facebook prohibits_firearms_trading between individuals, numerous pages present_themselves_as online weapons bazaars. On the page_“Libya’s Weapons Market,” sellers_advertise_machine guns, anti-aircraft guns_and artillery shells. Last month,_for instance, one user posted an_image of_a Russian_PM machine gun. “Message me if you are serious about purchasing,”_the message said.

On Monday, Facebook said_it had removed those_posts, as_well_as two other_pages_cited by_The Times that advertised the services of_human traffickers_sending illegal migrants by boat to_Europe.

“We are investigating to_understand_why we didn’t take action sooner,”_the spokeswoman said.

Facebook has developed tools_that scan for prohibited content,_which_human_moderators can then remove. These_programs flagged 85 percent of the_“violent content” that_was removed or given a warning label_in_the first three months of 2018,_the_spokeswoman said.

But the programs struggle to_identify_subtler_violations such as hate speech_or violent threats, which are mostly_reported by everyday users. This can make removal slow,_particularly in areas_where locals may be less_inclined_to_report the posts.

In 2011, Facebook reflected the “extraordinary” opening up_of Libyan_society after four_decades of dictatorship under Gadhafi, said Mary Fitzgerald