Meta, the social media giant, has faced new scrutiny over its decision to implement default end-to-end encryption on its messaging services despite internal warnings about its potential impact on child safety. According to internal company documents, senior executives expressed concerns that the technology would make it harder for law enforcement to flag and prevent child exploitation cases.
In 2019, Meta’s head of content policy, Monika Bickert, wrote that the plan was “irresponsible” and would hinder the company’s ability to address child predation. The documents also show that top safety executives feared that the technology would pose a heightened risk when built into public social networks.
Despite these concerns, Meta continued with its plan, which was announced in 2019 and later expanded to include Instagram direct messages. The company now claims to have added new safety features, including special accounts for underage users, to help detect and prevent abuse.
However, child safety advocates argue that the technology still poses a risk when built into public social networks that readily connect children to people they do not otherwise know. The New Mexico Attorney General’s lawsuit against Meta alleges that the company allowed predators unfettered access to underage users and connected them with victims, often leading to real-world abuse and human trafficking.
As Meta faces a wave of litigation and regulatory threats globally linked to the welfare of young users on its platforms, it remains to be seen whether the new safety features will be enough to mitigate the risks associated with encryption.
Source: https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/meta-executive-warned-facebook-messenger-encryption-plan-was-so-irresponsible-shows-court-filing-4520447