Meta sued for exposing children to sexual predators and content; A threat to innocence
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing a lawsuit from New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who alleges that the social media giant failed to protect underage users from exposure to child sexual abuse material and let adults solicit pornographic imagery from them.
The lawsuit, filed in New Mexico state court on December 6, 2023, claims that "Meta has allowed Facebook and Instagram to become a marketplace for predators in search of children upon whom to prey" and accuses the company of violating the state's Unfair Practices Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
According to the complaint, Meta has long known that its platforms are used by millions of children under the age of 13, who are not allowed to create accounts according to the company's own policies. However, Meta has failed to implement proper age verification mechanisms and instead relied on self-reported data, which is often inaccurate or falsified by underage users.
The complaint also alleges that Meta's algorithms and features, such as the "People You May Know" (PYMK) function, have facilitated and encouraged inappropriate contact between adults and minors, exposing children to sexual harassment, grooming, and exploitation.
The complaint cites internal documents and communications from Meta employees, which reveal that the company was aware of the extent and severity of the problem, but chose to ignore or downplay it for fear of losing revenue or users.
For example, the complaint reveals that in 2020, an Apple executive alerted Meta that their 12-year-old child had been "solicited" on Facebook and that Meta employees raised concerns internally that the incident could put the company at risk of having Facebook removed from the Apple App Store.
The complaint also reveals that in 2021, a Meta employee estimated that 100,000 child users were harassed daily on the company's platforms and that the PYMK feature was responsible for 75% of all inappropriate adult-minor contact.
However, when the employee reported these findings to Meta executives, they reportedly rejected recommendations that the algorithm be redesigned to stop recommending adults to minors.
Meta denies the allegations and defends its efforts to protect young users
Meta has denied the allegations and defended its efforts to protect young users from harm.
In a statement, Meta spokesperson Liza Crenshaw said: "We want teens to have safe, age-appropriate experiences online, and we have over 30 tools to support them and their parents.
We've spent a decade working on these issues".
Crenshaw also said that Meta uses "sophisticated technology" and partners with child safety experts, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and law enforcement to help protect young people and "root out predators".
Meta has also introduced measures to limit the interactions between adults and minors on its platforms, such as restricting direct messages, comments, and live streams.
The company has also announced plans to create a separate version of Instagram for children under 13, which would have more parental controls and privacy features.
However, these initiatives have been met with skepticism and criticism from lawmakers, regulators, advocates, and users, who have questioned Meta's motives and effectiveness in addressing the issue of child safety online.
The lawsuit is part of a broader backlash against Meta's practices and impact on society
The lawsuit from New Mexico is part of a broader backlash against Meta's practices and impact on society, especially on young and vulnerable users.
Meta has been under scrutiny for its role in spreading misinformation, hate speech, violence, and extremism, as well as its impact on mental health, democracy, and human rights.
Meta has also faced several investigations and lawsuits from federal and state authorities in the US and other countries, over its alleged anticompetitive behavior, privacy violations, and tax evasion.
The lawsuit from New Mexico is seeking injunctive relief, civil penalties, and restitution for the affected users, as well as requiring Meta to implement more effective measures to prevent and detect underage users and to protect them from sexual exploitation.
The lawsuit also asks the court to appoint a third-party monitor to oversee Meta's compliance with the law and the court's orders.
The lawsuit is expected to face a long and complex legal battle, as Meta is likely to challenge the jurisdiction, evidence, and claims of the lawsuit.
The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for Meta's business model, reputation, and social responsibility.
