Moderating a general-purpose forum for the world is intractable, either automatically or manually. That's just a fact. Acknowledging this fact does not need to

Moderating a general-purpose forum for the world is intractable, either automatically or manually. That's just a fact. Acknowledging this fact does not need to be understood as a defense of Meta. I cannot offer any solutions for tackling this issue internationally, especially in cases such as genocide. The issue seems hopeless and not particularly unique to the internet (see: previous genocides and their use of new mass media such as newspapers in Germany, radio in Darfur). However, in the United States, I think the solution is ultimately local. Making specific and credible threats against someone is crime in all jurisdictions. Harassment using a telecommunications device is also a crime in most jurisdictions. Combining harassment with either vague threats or hate speech is sometimes its own crime. I've found, to my surprise, that the legal system is interested in internet harassment/threats even if the harassment/threat is "obviously trolling" by internet standards. The bad news is that there isn't a bright line and the bar is high. The good news is that the type of internet behavior that's been normalized in the past couple decades is so far beyond the pale that a bright line isn't even needed in many cases. E.g., - sending dozens of unrequited and extremely angry/hateful DMs to multiple unlinked accounts over weeks/months, even after requests to stop contacting the person, is clearly a criminal act called harassment, punishable by fines and jail time. - Doxxing a person who one has previously made threats against is clearly a criminal act called stalking, punishable by fines and jail time. - Telling someone that you think you know who they are, that you will figure out their IRL identity, and that you will then harm them in a specific way is clearly a credible threat. Again, a criminal act punishable by fines and jail time. These are all very common types of trolling. I would have thought that the lines were fuzzier from my long tenure on the internet, and that courts/police would respond with their equivalent of "ignore it and don't feed the trolls". But it turns out that these anti-social behaviors are not normal outside of very specific internet subcultures, and judges/detectives/DAs have spent approximately zero hours in internet cesspools. To them, all of the above are alarming, obviously criminal, and not examples of cases where one should simply ignore the behavior and go on with life. I've found that even respected moderators of respected forums will disregard as "just trolling" behavior that my DA's office and local detectives describe as "obviously criminal". Facebook and Twitter will also refuse to ban accounts that are engaged in harassment/threats/stalking behavior that the local DA is interested in prosecuting. I'm also working a few attorney friends -- and spending some change -- on developing a repeatable, low-cost, DIY-as-possible civil strategy for unmasking and obtaining restraining orders against John Doe harassers. The days of "threatening and harassing people on the internet" being "normal troll behavior" are going to come to a rude close for US residents over the next ten years, mostly on the back of serious misdemeanors and innovation in the use of civil lawsuits.