Facebook says it has successfully tested a computer program that can help keep users from taking their own lives.

　　Facebook声称该公司已经成功测试了一款可以帮助阻止用户自杀的计算机程序。

　　The social media network now says it will expand the use of the pattern recognition software to other countries.

　　这家社交媒体网站目前表示将会把这种模式识别软件推广到其它国家。

　　Facebook began testing the software in the United States in March.

　　Facebook今年3月份开始在美国测试这款软件。

　　The software is considered an example of artificial intelligence. In February, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a statement that artificial intelligence could be used to help keep people safe.

　　这款软件被视为人工智能的一个案例。今年二月份，Facebook首席执行官扎克伯格在一份声明中写道，人工智能可用于帮助保证人们的安全。

　　The software scans messages on Facebook for comments that could be signs that a person intends to harm themselves. Facebook has not released any of the technical details about the program. But, the company did say that it looks for phrases such as "Are you ok?" and "Can I help?"

　　这款软件会扫描Facebook上的信息，找出其中可能预示着自我伤害倾向的言论。Facebook尚未发布关于该程序的任何技术细节。但是该公司表示，它会查找“你还好吗?”和“我能帮到你吗?”这类短语。

　　If the software finds the signs it is looking for, it alerts a team of Facebook workers who specialize in dealing with such reports.

　　如果该软件发现它在寻找的一些迹象，就会通知Facebook公司一队专门处理这类报告的工作人员。

　　The system suggests resources to the user or to friends of the person such as a telephone help line. Facebook workers sometimes call local officials to take action.

　　该系统会向用户或其好友提供一些资源，例如求助热线。有时候Facebook员工还会呼叫当地官员采取行动。

　　Facebook said it tries to have specialists available at any hour to call officials in local languages.

　　Facebook表示该公司试图确保任何时间都有专业人员待命，来使用当地语言和有关官员联系。

　　Guy Rosen is Facebook’s vice president for product management. He posted a description of the program on the Facebook website on Monday. He said the company was expanding use of the software because the tests were successful.

　　盖伊.罗森是Facebook的产品管理副总裁。周一他在Facebook网站上发布了该程序的产品概述。他说，该公司开始推广这款程序的应用是因为测试非常成功。

　　He said first responders checked on people more than 100 times after Facebook’s software raised alarms. Reuters reported that Rosen said, "Speed really matters. We have to get help in real time."

　　他说，在Facebook的软件发出警报后，应急人员对用户进行了上百次检查。据路透社报道，罗森说：“速度真的很重要，我们必须向人们提供实时的帮助。”

　　An answer to live video incidents

　　视频直播意外事件的解决办法

　　Facebook started to use the new software after the launch of live video broadcasting in 2016. A number of incidents took place in which people were live broadcasting violent acts including suicides and murders.

　　Facebook在2016年推出视频直播之后开始采用这款新软件。Facebook的视频直播发生了很多起意外事件，人们开始直播自杀和谋杀等暴力行为。

　　In May, the company said it would hire 3,000 people to monitor video and other content.

　　今年5月份，该公司声称将会雇佣3千人来监控视频和其它内容。

　　Rosen did not say where Facebook would use the software outside the U.S. He said, in time, it would be used around the world except in the European Union where privacy laws would likely place limits on its use.

　　罗森没有透露Facebook会在美国之外的哪些地方采用这款软件。他表示，一段时间之后，该公司将会在全球范围内使用该软件，除了欧盟之外，因为欧盟的隐私法可能会限制其应用。

　　Google is another technology company that tries to prevent suicides by monitoring users. The Google search engine will show a hot line telephone number if certain searches are made.

　　谷歌是另一家试图通过监控用户来预防自杀的科技公司。如果进行某些特定的搜索，谷歌搜索引擎就会显示一部热线电话号码。

　　Facebook uses information from its users to target advertising. The company has not announced in the past that it scans messages for harmful behavior.

　　Facebook使用来自用户的信息针对性地投放广告。该公司过去没有说过它会扫描有害行为的信息。

　　However, the company says it does look for suspicious comments between children and adult sex criminals. Facebook says sometimes it contacts officials when it finds targeted discussions.

　　不过该公司表示，它确实在搜寻介于儿童和成人性犯罪之间的可疑评论。Facebook表示，当它发现针对性讨论时会联系有关官员。

　　Ryan Calo is a law professor at the University of Washington. He says scanning people’s discussions is harder to justify in other situations.

　　瑞恩.卡罗是华盛顿大学的一名法学教授。他说，扫描公众的讨论在其它情况下很难被证明是正当的。

　　Calo said, "Once you open the door, you might wonder what other kinds of things we would be looking for."

　　卡罗说：“一旦开了这个坏头，你可能就会想知道我们还能查点什么东西。”

　　Rosen declined to comment about whether Facebook is considering pattern recognition software to fight non-sex related crimes.

　　罗森拒绝评论Facebook是否考虑使用模式识别软件来打击跟性无关的犯罪。

　　The company announced that it was using technology and other resources to help save lives on September 7, World Suicide Prevention day.

　　该公司在9月7日的世界预防自杀日上宣布正在利用科技和其它资源来帮助拯救生命。

　　I’m Mario Ritter.

　　我是马里奥.里特。