Dark Content

Originally released online, this new video work commissioned by AND, explored the role and experiences of online ‘content moderators’ – an elusive labour force responsible for removing ‘offensive’ material from social media sites.

At work in their cubicles and apartments in the Philippines, Arizona or Bulgaria, miles away from the anonymous companies that hire them, filtering workers are employed to soak up the worst of humanity in order to ‘protect’ the rest of us. Where do all the filtered images going after they disappear from the Internet? They may leak into the Darknet, but not before being witnessed by an invisible army of moderators.

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Installation photos: Left & Middle, Carroll / Fletcher, London / Right Dortmundu U, Dortmun, 2016

For this new work Eva and Franco Mattes sought out several content moderators to discuss the most affecting videos and images they have encountered, and the implications of removing such content. Even if they left the job long ago, most workers can still recall the image that made them quit.

Follow the instructions in the trailer below to view Dark Content online on the Darknet:

 

 

 

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