Swedish
prosecutors investigating a suspected gang rape and its broadcast via Facebook
Live said on Friday they had received a copy of the footage from the U.S.
social media company.
Prosecutors
earlier this month charged two men with raping a woman in January, and a third
with the crime of "grave defamation" by streaming it live or with a
slight delay online. The three deny the charges.
"We
have received the material," Prosecutor Magnus Berggren told Reuters,
saying he had confirmation that the alleged assault had been streamed live.
Sweden made
a formal request to the U.S. justice department for help in obtaining the
footage from Facebook. Police were alerted to the case by viewers who saw the
broadcast.
The case
brings into focus complex ethical and policy issues faced by Facebook Live and
other streaming services.
Facebook
Live allows anyone to broadcast a video directly from their smartphone without
the regulatory restrictions imposed on traditional broadcasters.
Facebook was
not immediately available for comment on Friday.
It said on
March 15 it responded to valid requests relating to criminal cases. "We
support local law enforcement who make data requests related to criminal
investigations, particularly when it comes to the safety of young people,"
it said in a statement to Reuters.
(Reuters)
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