Yandex.Music limits creativity: AI becomes the new censor

The Yandex.Music streaming platform, in cooperation with the Music Industry Association (AMI), is introducing a new music content moderation system. Compositions will be analyzed for inappropriate or adult content using machine learning technologies and subsequent manual review.

According to the company, this system will allow to identify and mark adult content with the “Explicit” badge with high accuracy, thereby protecting children in children’s mode. The system being implemented will also ensure that content on sensitive topics that may cause discomfort to listeners is identified.

“The existence of a content policy for music streaming platforms is a common global practice. It is important to strike a balance between the interests and comfort of listeners and the possibility of self-expression of artists,” said Valery Drobysh, CEO of AMI.

The new system was also positively received by politicians. Alexander Khinshtein, head of the State Duma Information Committee, expressed the hope that hybrid moderation will help to avoid incidents with inappropriate content. Anton Gorelkin, State Duma deputy, called this an example of successful self-regulation of the market, when companies, without waiting for user complaints, independently strive to create a safe and comfortable Internet environment.

Alexander Antipov, editor-in-chief of SecurityLab.ru, expressed his concern about the innovations of Yandex.Music:

“Although the initiative of Yandex and the Music Industry Association to create a safer space for listeners looks noble at first glance, it is worth taking a closer look at it. Censorship, although under the auspices of artificial intelligence, still remains censorship.

A system based on machine learning is sure to make mistakes and misclassify many works. Ultimately, this can lead to the blocking or mislabeling of innocent tracks, thus violating the freedom of creativity and the rights of artists.

It is important to remember that we are dealing with art, which by its very nature is not meant to be absolutely categorized and classified. Art should evoke emotions, questions, and sometimes discomfort, because that is how it makes us grow and develop. If we start to limit this magic with algorithms and codes, we endanger the very essence of art.

Perhaps we should ask ourselves the question: is the price of protecting our ears from potentially uncomfortable content worth the loss of art’s ability to seamlessly express human experience?”