Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook and Instagram, is once again under the legal spotlight, facing accusations of failing to protect young users. In a recent development, the state of New Mexico has taken legal action against Meta, with the state attorney general’s office filing a lawsuit against the tech giant. The crux of the matter? Alleged inadequacies in safeguarding minors while using their platforms.
The lawsuit, filed this week, stems from an investigation carried out by the state attorney general’s office. In an effort to assess the safety of Facebook and Instagram for younger users, investigators created test accounts on these platforms, purporting to be preteens or teenagers. These test accounts used AI-generated profile photos to mimic real users. What followed was deeply concerning.
According to the attorney general’s office, the test accounts were inundated with explicit messages and images, as well as sexual propositions from other users. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that Meta’s algorithms actively recommended sexual content to these test accounts, raising serious questions about the company’s commitment to child safety.
The lawsuit doesn’t mince words, asserting that “Meta has allowed Facebook and Instagram to become a marketplace for predators in search of children upon whom to prey.” It goes on to claim that Meta failed to implement effective measures to prevent those under the age of 13 from using its platforms. Moreover, it contends that Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, may bear personal liability for decisions that increased risks to children.
To circumvent Meta’s age restrictions, investigators provided adult birthdates while setting up these phony accounts for four fictitious children. This tactic mirrors the unfortunate reality that many youngsters often falsify their ages to access online services. However, the investigators aimed to create the impression that these accounts belonged to children, with one of them posting about losing a baby tooth and starting seventh grade. Shockingly, the suit alleges that they even made it seem as though the fictional child’s mother might be involved in trafficking her.
The accounts, the lawsuit claims, received child pornography and offers to pay for sexual services. In a troubling twist, just two days after setting up an account for a fictitious 13-year-old girl, Meta’s algorithms suggested that it follow a Facebook account with a staggering 119,000 followers that posted explicit adult content.
Investigators diligently reported inappropriate material, including images that appeared to depict nude and underage girls, through Meta’s reporting systems. However, according to the lawsuit, Meta’s systems often deemed such content permissible on its platforms, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the company’s content moderation efforts.
In response to these allegations, Meta released a statement to The Wall Street Journal, asserting that it prioritizes child safety and invests significantly in safety teams. The company stated, “We use sophisticated technology, hire child safety experts, report content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and share information and tools with other companies and law enforcement, including state attorneys general, to help root out predators.” Meta also claimed to be actively working to prevent malicious adults from contacting children on its platforms.
Earlier this year, Meta established a task force dedicated to addressing child safety issues following reports that Instagram’s algorithms facilitated the discovery of accounts involved in underage-sex material transactions. Just last week, The Wall Street Journal reported on the disturbing prevalence of child exploitation material on Instagram and Facebook. According to the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, a network of Instagram accounts with up to 10 million followers each continued to livestream videos of child sexual abuse, even months after being reported to the company. Meta insists it has taken action in response to these issues.
The lawsuit filed by New Mexico is not an isolated incident. It follows a collective legal action taken by 41 states and the District of Columbia in October. Among other allegations, these states contended that Meta knowingly perpetuated the “addictive” aspects of its platforms, which were deemed harmful to young users, and that the company misled the public about safety measures on its platforms.
In the face of mounting legal challenges and growing concerns about child safety, Meta finds itself at a critical juncture. The outcome of these lawsuits will undoubtedly shape the future of social media and online safety for young users. As the legal battles unfold, the tech giant must reckon with the serious accusations leveled against it and take meaningful steps to prioritize the well-being of children on its platforms. The world is watching, and the stakes could not be higher.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Child Safety Lawsuit
What is the lawsuit against Meta by New Mexico about?
The lawsuit filed by New Mexico against Meta revolves around allegations that Meta failed to protect young users on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. It specifically accuses Meta of allowing explicit content, sexual propositions, and child exploitation to occur on these platforms.
What prompted this lawsuit?
The lawsuit was prompted by an investigation conducted by the New Mexico state attorney general’s office. In this investigation, test accounts were set up on Instagram and Facebook, where the investigators posed as preteens or teenagers. These test accounts received explicit messages, images, and sexual propositions from other users, raising concerns about the platforms’ safety for minors.
What are the key allegations in the lawsuit?
The lawsuit alleges that Meta allowed its platforms to become a breeding ground for predators seeking to exploit children. It further claims that Meta’s algorithms recommended sexual content to the test accounts, and the company failed to implement effective measures to prevent users under the age of 13 from using its platforms. Additionally, it suggests that Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, may bear personal liability for choices that increased risks to children.
How did the investigators set up the test accounts?
To bypass Meta’s age restrictions, the investigators provided adult birthdates while creating phony accounts for fictional children. This tactic aimed to simulate the behavior of young users who often misstate their ages to access online services they are not supposed to. They even created the impression that one of the fictional child’s mothers might be involved in trafficking her.
What kind of content did the test accounts receive?
The suit alleges that the test accounts received explicit child pornography and offers to pay for sexual services. Shockingly, Meta’s algorithms also suggested following an account that posted explicit adult content, indicating a lack of appropriate content filtering.
How has Meta responded to these allegations?
Meta has responded by stating that it prioritizes child safety and invests heavily in safety teams. The company claims to use sophisticated technology, hire child safety experts, report content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and collaborate with law enforcement to combat predators on its platforms.
Is this the first time Meta has faced legal action related to child safety?
No, this is not the first time. Earlier this year, Meta established a task force dedicated to addressing child safety issues following reports that Instagram’s algorithms facilitated the discovery of accounts involved in underage-sex material transactions. In October, a group of 41 states and the District of Columbia also filed lawsuits against Meta, alleging that the company knowingly perpetuated addictive aspects of its platforms, harmful to young users, and misled the public about safety measures.
More about Child Safety Lawsuit
- The Wall Street Journal
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
- Canadian Centre for Child Protection
- Meta’s Child Safety Measures
- Meta’s Task Force on Child Safety
- Previous Lawsuits Against Meta
