Hey guys,

Before everyone starts jumping in on what your opinions are in the comments; oh how I can hear off in the distance the keyboards in question being slapped around already by the frustration of being triggered by the headline. The time has come to talk about this topic in a serious manner where censorship is in question. "Are Steem Spam Bots Ruining The Community?".

Over the recent year, there are more and more posts possibly containing content from other creators on the internet being used on this platform. Currently those who possibly create plagiarism that is similar to other internet articles or use photos from other locations are being flagged or manipulated by user created bots in order for posts to be considered "spam" and pushed off the platform though algorithm. Personally I'd like to know your take in the comments about that specifically.

There is also a new platform using Steem, called Dtube that is making the scene. To quickly sum this next part up, there are channels that are uploading their "own" videos onto IPFS and using Steem as the platform to create the posts for the video. Those who upload possible copyrighted content are also being flagged or manipulated by bots to be pushed off the platform though algorithm. (As a reminder, social media giants are building similar frameworks to censor users on there platform, or just delete posts entirely.)

In highlight of this, there is a legal argument that I see countless times being used but disregarded by spam bot creators. If content being hosted in other websites embedded into your blog post (eg: videos, pictures, media) then this becomes the responsibility of the hosting provider who operates the linked content. It doesn't seem like such media is hosted on this site or in relation of being connected to the coins, which is designed on purpose. In my opinion, Steem as a company doesn't bare liability to those who create, as designed. Same with IPFS that operates the videos or in relation to coins being tied to the content. Its totally different operations that are all shown on the same page.

There is a second legal argument about the bots in question. Unless such bot has contracts to be enacting on the original content creators behalf, does the bot have any right to demand ownership verification as threat to being flagged? Along with does the user created bot have any right to create context in regard to such content without the original content creator? As such to be enacting as an entity on behalf of Steems Company. Should we allow any bot to flag, as more and more are developed? Should we let these bots profit on the original content creators filings, as an example with @cheetah or @steemcleaners (~~which has other bots upvote and give them power over flags~~). Who's to say the bot also misrepresented but still created damage? There are alot of questions involved and I'd like to know your take also.

My third question is "how does this affect the platform"? As mentioned previously, similar frameworks are already or being built by social media giant companies. However Steemit being different on a blockchain, no one can delete posts but similar algorithm style censorship by user created bots are on the forefront of manipulating the spam flagging system. As I understand in creating a unique community is necessary in retrospect (which develops itself by you the creators) as such accounts who do spam or are abusing the system should be punished. However, this understanding of potential benefits for security would probably be more effective by the platform itself (if they so choose that route) rather then managed by community members.

This was meant to be a quick post but I will update this further when I get the chance. I have also questioned my legal team about this as we move forward to figure this out*. Thanks everyone!