In 2015 technology finally allows people to be in two places at once, through Twitter’s new live-streaming app, Periscope.

The newest innovation in social media was acquired for approximately $100 million back in January and was in beta testing up until its launch in March 26, according to a March 13 TechCrunch article. Periscope allows users to broadcast events or simply give the world a first-person look at what’s going on with the help of an iPhone camera — an Android app is currently in the works. The links to broadcasts can be publicly posted on Twitter, which is a huge step for the evolution of social networking. But at the same token it opens the door to potential piracy, privacy and legal concerns.

Live-streaming services aren’t new, but Periscope’s integration with such a large public platform like Twitter raises the question of exactly how this content will be policed. As we move toward more personal online interactions and blur the lines between social media and our real lives, it will be difficult to monitor the behavior of all the users.

Twitter has not clearly stated its policies on broadcasting, and while users can assume certain events are off-limits, that hasn’t stopped people from testing the legal boundaries. There have already been many cases of piracy and inappropriate behavior in just the few weeks since its launch.

According to an April 1 Business Insider article, Periscope’s female users have been subject to sexual harassment and unwanted comments during their broadcasts. In response, Periscope rolled out an update that gives users the option of only letting their followers view a broadcast, as well as a feature to block certain viewers without stopping the stream.

Recently many Periscope users have been live recording music concerts and allowing people to enjoy the show free of charge from the comfort of their homes. There have also been broadcasts with cameras pointed at televisions, letting viewers watch full TV programs that they may not have access to otherwise. As such, artists and television companies who profit off the exclusivity of their content should work with Twitter on ways to better control this kind of pirating.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if video content recorded on Periscope finds itself in a courtroom in the future. With the recent string of inappropriate police behavior being caught on camera, someone could easily witness a criminal act and choose to share it in real-time rather than uploading it later. Periscope videos may also be the subject of lawsuits from upset celebrities who may be unaware that they are being recorded. Live-streaming has its benefits, but there is a very thin line when it comes to its legality that users must be aware of.

Despite these legal concerns, Periscope should have no problem attracting users. The app has the same appeal that has helped Snapchat become so successful — it’s authentic. Live-streaming takes away the ability to crop out your flaws or shape your online persona before making it public. With Periscope, what you see is what you get. But this authenticity has the possibility to lead to trouble, especially when dealing with the unknowns of the Internet.

We’ve reached a new level of intimacy when it comes to social media. It is the responsibility of both app developers and content creators to figure out a piracy monitoring method while still allowing users to live vicariously through others’ videos.

Periscope is both a personal and public platform that is different than anything we’ve seen thus far. Only time will tell, but barring any big legal issues Periscope has the potential be a big success.

Aarick Knighton is a junior information management and technology major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at adknight@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @aarickurban.

Published on April 14, 2015 at 9:17 pm