About two weeks ago, I contacted Yandex support regarding video filtering in child mode.
To be honest, the desire to report inappropriate content for children had arisen before, but as it often happens — it was postponed.
Moreover — it's Yandex! They know better what you wanted to find.
As it turned out — not really.
Pay attention to the child mode icon at the top right.
This is the screen — about profanity and 18+ content that I saw when trying to show a walkthrough video of a beautiful game from MS to my child, by the way — the game is rated 6+.
Of course, there were other options, but the aftertaste remained.
A little backstory — why I suddenly decided to contact support.
My child (7 years old) is not a stranger to computers and gadgets, but isn't obsessed with them either.
They love drawing, and usually, with the help of Alice — looking at the monitor, they try to repeat what is taught in workshops, listens to music, dances, and sings.
They always handle the device quite correctly, and if some question arises, they often try to figure out the unclear themselves. Of course, we, as parents, always explain and tell, but the child is interested in another perspective, which is generally right. But as it turned out — not in this case.
A child's personal time and personal space should exist, and a closed door for an hour or two a day didn't bother me at all — watching cartoons, drawing — what's wrong with that?
Until she came up and said, 'I'm scared.'
She stumbled upon some scary stories that even some adults shouldn't watch. Perhaps Alice incorrectly interpreted the request, maybe her friends told her something — and here's the result.
A wonderful video in child mode directly from Yandex — from their video hosting, right?
After watching 'this' for a couple of minutes, I decided to contact support without delay — because such horror in child mode is unacceptable and hoping that they would 'just tweak the filters.' But there wouldn't be an article if it were that simple.
I'll jump ahead — so as to avoid reading the long correspondence with support.
In a nutshell: there are no filters. We (Yandex) believe it's all okay.
A child will see everything for which no age restriction has been enforced (by moderators or uploaders). For YouTube and Yandex, which primarily deliver content to the service, this means that virtually any video is accessible since they re-upload any video without bothering to set restrictions. All TV news channels are available on hosting services (although it is about time to set a 16+ restriction for news).
There is not even filtering based on keywords in the request.
a long correspondence with customer support
2020-04-07 13:37:40, Ivan
Subject of the inquiry: Another question
Question regarding: Video filtering in child mode
Hello!
In the station settings, child mode is enabled, but as I understand it, filtering is only performed based on keywords.
As a result, there are often videos on the screen that are definitely inappropriate for a seven-year-old child. Such content regularly appears on both YouTube and Yandex.Video.
Could you please advise how to solve this problem?
Tue, Apr 7, 2020, 17:03 Yandex.Support
Hello, Ivan!
First of all, please let’s make sure that you have set up the filtering mode in the appropriate section of the Yandex app: menu (⊞) -> 'Devices' -> 'Account' -> 'Search mode'.
Is that correct?
In that case, please clarify on which resource the videos are being played?
Could you please provide an example of such a video?
I will await your response.
2020-04-07 14:44:36, Ivan
Hello.
The first photo is the result of trying to play Dr. House from the home screen (refusal). That is, child mode is enabled.
And then all other requests.
A separate request — could you please comment on why a video request with the keyword 'murder' is being processed at all in child mode?
//прим. тут я приложил пачку фотографий
Tue, Apr 7, 2020, 18:32, Yandex.Support
Ivan, thank you for the check and the photos!
So that we can study in more detail why such requests are processed in child mode, please specify what commands you issued to Alice.
2020-04-07 15:56:27, Ivan
file name — command (or result)
— 'Alice, find a video of Ori and the Blind Forest on the internet'
— result of the previous request
— video 1 from the previous request
— video 1 from the previous request
— 'Alice, play Dr. House'
— 'Alice, find a prank video on the internet'
— "Alice, find a video of the murder on the internet" (request)
— "Alice, find a video of the murder on the internet" (result)
— video 1 from the previous request
— video 2 of the previous request
— "Alice, find a video of Momo"
— video 1 from the previous request
— photo information about the station
I split them by "requests", renamed the files for convenience, and attached them to the email again.
//прим. оформил ссылками на фото
Tue, April 7, 2020, 20:33 Yandex.Support
Ivan, thank you for renaming the photos and signing the commands and results.
I have forwarded all the information to the responsible specialists. We will need some time to figure out the cause of the situation and to study why Alice processes commands and shows such results.
As soon as I have news, I will contact you!
2020-04-12 15:24:41, Ivan
Hello! Is there any news regarding my question?
Sun, April 12, 2020, 18:49, Yandex.Support
Hello, Ivan!
Unfortunately, there are no updates yet; our specialists are still working on your query.
I will definitely write to you when I have information!
2020-04-20 17:03:17, Ivan
Hello! Two weeks ago, I raised a question about the functionality that you state is basic, that is, available by default for activation and use.
You even advertise the kids mode — just recently I received a promo from you where it was written in big letters "0+", which, as it turned out, does not match the reality.
I have provided the requested materials (voice commands, screenshots, etc.).
Please explain to me — why is my question taking so long to resolve?
Mon, April 20, 2020, 20:51 Yandex.Support
Hello, Ivan!
Thank you for letting us know about this situation.
Currently, this mode filters content in such a way that it does not allow the display of explicit videos or sexual content.
I have forwarded your comments to the specialists. We will work on improving the kids mode.
2020-04-20 18:06:47, Ivan
I reported this situation two weeks ago. Now I am asking why this issue is taking so long to resolve.
Mon, April 20, 2020, 21:42 Yandex.Support
Ivan, yes, you are correct.
With my message, I wanted to draw attention to the fact that your opinion is important to us. All information has already been forwarded to the responsible specialists.
Currently, the child mode works this way, but we have noted your request to improve content filtering in this mode.
Unfortunately, I can't tell you when this will be implemented, but we are noting everything and trying to bring it to fruition in the future.
2020-04-20 18:46:11, Ivan
That's great, but why do I see a 0+ label now if it actually doesn't work?
2020-04-20 19:15:43, Yandex.Support
Ivan, I will consult with my colleagues regarding this issue. As soon as I have an answer, I will contact you.
Please, await my letter.
Tue, April 21, 2020 at 3:26 PM, Yandex.Support
Ilya, thank you for your patience.
The videos from the examples you provided are currently considered permissible for the family mode.
We are currently working on stricter filters for the child mode.
//тут я уже Илья 🙂
2020-04-21 12:52:12, Ivan
Let me clarify — who is considered permissible for 0+ from the examples of videos?
I found no stricter limitations (than those currently in place) — thus, according to the advertisement, this is indeed the 0+ mode.
The Federal Law 436-FZ clearly describes age classifications, and for 0+, profanity, violence, and horror are unequivocally prohibited.
Two weeks have passed since my first inquiry, and now you are writing on behalf of Yandex that this is permissible?
If Yandex allows itself to disregard the federal law, I can certainly afford to demand that this issue be resolved immediately.
Yandex has exactly one day since I sent my letter requesting corrections to the child mode based on the examples I provided.
If there are no corrections, I will file complaints and articles with Roskomnadzor, Sportloto, Pikabu, Habr, and RenTV.
Thank you for your attention, time is running out.
Tue, April 21, 2020, 5:49 PM Yandex.Support
Ilya, I understand you. Unfortunately, it's impossible to make changes to the complex content filtering process in such a short time. But I have forwarded your letter to the responsible parties. I will write to you when there are updates!
April 21, 2020, 5:55 PM, Ivan
Gentlemen, you had two weeks.
After which you informed me that this content is permissible. Unfortunately, I (and the federal law) do not agree with you.
Wait another two weeks?) Thank you, I have already waited.
I’ve stated the time; the rest depends on you.
//думаю, читая эту статью вам уже стало понятно, что результата нет
And no, this is not a complaint. One can complain about personal issues, but here the problems with mental health can arise for any random child who is able to speak with Yandex.Station.
I hope that highlighting the issue will help improve the filtering of YS, and parents will be aware of the dangerous toy.
And yes, I will definitely report it to the RKN.
UPD:
Source: habr.com
