Spectrum Labs banks US$32M to curb toxic behavior online
Content moderation provider Spectrum Labs claims to recognize over 40 types of destructive content at scale with proprietary AI.
The internet gives us the freedom to access any content we want. But we can't deny that its anonymity also encourages toxic behaviors, such as making hateful comments or spreading violent messages.
Spectrum Labs is one of several providers of content moderation software. It aims to help companies keep people on the web out of harm's way.
The San Francisco-based content moderation player announced that it secured a US$32 million series B investment from Intel Capital. Gaingels, Harris Barton, and Munich Re Ventures, alongside existing investors Greycroft, Global Founders Capital, Ridge Ventures, Super{set}, and Wing Venture Capital, also participated in the round.
To date, the company has raised a total of US$46 million over four rounds.
The firm will use the money for product innovations, research, customer service, sales, and supporting brand safety teams.
Co-founders Josh Newman and Justin Davis launched Spectrum Labs in December 2016. Their mission was to work with organizations to recognize and understand online toxicity and implement solutions to curb harmful content.
Justin explained, "Our AI can be deployed across languages, behaviors, and industries very effectively to fuel growth and build trust through safer and more inclusive communities. As more of our living, working, and playing happens on the internet, leading companies are increasingly thinking about how to understand better, protect, and grow their communities."
Spectrum Labs uses AI, automation, and other services to help digital brands and platforms detect and shut down toxic behaviors in text and audio content. The tech supports scanning across nearly 40 languages and more than 40 behavior profiles.
Additionally, the moderation solution aims to improve clients' control of the content they do not want to see, while providing an easy-to-use app for trust and safety teams.
The company claims to work with over 20 platforms, including prominent clients like Grindr, Pinterest, Riot Games, Udemy, and more. The platform helps these companies recognize toxic behavior – such as child sexual abuse material, hate speech, and violent extremism – with tools that moderate content.
Marck Rostick, vice president and senior MD at Intel Capital, stated that digital trust and ethical operations are vital to helping organizations differentiate themselves. It also allows brands to build trust and safe business processes.
Spectrum Labs has not disclosed its pricing, but brands can request a demo to learn about and experience its offerings.
Enricko Lukman
Here's a quick video on how Spectrum Labs identifies bad behavior:
President of Riot Games Scott Gelb mentioned that Spectrum Labs helped the gaming company detect more than 200 million disturbing behaviors in various categories over the past year. He also added that Spectrum Labs improved the gaming experience for players at large.
Spectrum Labs competes with a plethora of similar content moderation platforms, including Hive and L1ght.
Hive is a US-based AI solution analyzing all content types, such as images and phrases. The firm claims to have pulled in more than 150 clients, including prominent names like Giphy, Reddit, Zepeto, Plato, and others. Hive received US$85 million in fresh funding back in April 2021.
Israel-based L1ght also helps social platforms and gaming operators shut down online toxicity using AI. The app monitors and analyzes text, images, and videos. The company claims that several US law enforcement agencies uses L1ght's technology, including the Massachusetts State Police, New York State Police, and the NYPD.
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Enricko Lukman
