The European Commission is asking Meta to take action to stop pedophile networks on Instagram. This Thursday, EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton urged Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to “act immediately” to protect minors on the platform, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and the Wall Street Journal, a joint study by Stanford University and Massachusetts Amherst University will reveal that the application encourages pedophile networks to connect. According to the researchers, the Instagram algorithm helps connect and boost a vast network of accounts dedicated to buying underage sexual content.
Breton said in his official Twitter account that “Meta’s voluntary child protection code doesn’t seem to be working.” Mark Zuckerberg must now explain himself and act immediately.” USA, meet up with Meta’s number one.
#GoalThe voluntary child protection code does not seem to be working.
Mark Zuckerberg must now explain and take immediate action.
I will discuss with him at Meta’s HQ in Menlo Park on June 23rd.
After August 25, under #DSA Meta must demonstrate measures to us or face severe sanctions. pic.twitter.com/jA25IJH8Dp
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) June 8, 2023
The Digital Services Directive (DSA), as the standard is officially called, establishes obligations for transparency and access to the algorithms of the major digital platforms. Among other things, it forces them to quickly remove illegal content and to be transparent about the design of their algorithms, which determine what users see on the internet and social networks.
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The regulation also provides for the protection of fundamental rights (restrictions on the use of data based on race or religion) or fines, which in the case of tech giants can be up to 6% of their world income, if they do not comply with the requirements. “From August 25th, under the Digital Services Act, Meta will have to prove that it is taking action or face heavy sanctions,” said the EU commissioner.
Researchers found that Instagram — which has more than 1.3 billion users — easily allows people to search for explicit pedophilia tags. In some cases, even emoticons linking them to accounts that used the terms to promote the sale of child sexual material or even underage encounters. “Instagram connects pedophiles and directs them through recommendation systems to content sellers who stand out from affinity links,” the American media explain.
Acknowledging problems with its enforcement efforts, Meta responded to the WSJ that it had removed 27 pedophile rings from Instagram in the past two years. It also stated that it had set up an internal working group to look into these issues.
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