osoab
4th June 2014, 10:38 AM
Secret Service seeks sarcasm-spotting software (http://www.smh.com.au/world/secret-service-seeks-sarcasmspotting-software-for-social-media-20140604-zrx5b.html)
The US Secret Service is looking to buy software that can spot sarcasm on social media.
Good luck with that.
Government agencies and corporations have long used social media to try to influence the public and get their messages out, while law enforcement agencies increasingly monitor such sites for signs of trouble.
But getting a computer to detect sarcasm and its linguistic complexities can be difficult - and some experts worry at the prospect of attempts to parse speech by a government agency that has the power to arrest people for posting alleged threats online.
The Secret Service request for the software, first reported by nextgov.com, was posted on Monday.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the request would allow the agency to create its own system for monitoring Twitter - both its own presence in social media and important issues that are trending on the social network.
rest at link.
The US Secret Service is looking to buy software that can spot sarcasm on social media.
Good luck with that.
Government agencies and corporations have long used social media to try to influence the public and get their messages out, while law enforcement agencies increasingly monitor such sites for signs of trouble.
But getting a computer to detect sarcasm and its linguistic complexities can be difficult - and some experts worry at the prospect of attempts to parse speech by a government agency that has the power to arrest people for posting alleged threats online.
The Secret Service request for the software, first reported by nextgov.com, was posted on Monday.
Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan said the request would allow the agency to create its own system for monitoring Twitter - both its own presence in social media and important issues that are trending on the social network.
rest at link.