Post by account_disabled on Feb 27, 2024 4:09:04 GMT -5
Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, allowed Facebook and Instagram to become a “marketplace for predators looking for children,” a new lawsuit from the New Mexico attorney general alleges, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal . The lawsuit, filed in state court Tuesday, also claims that Meta's algorithms recommend sexual content to children. As described in the complaint, the New Mexico attorney general's office conducted an investigation that involved creating test profiles on Facebook and Instagram that appeared to be teenagers or preteens. The office not only found inappropriate recommendations for each of the lures, such as an account that “openly” posted adult pornography, but also found that they attracted predators.
A test account claiming to be a 13-year-old girl gained Philippines WhatsApp Number thousands of adult followers" who invited her to private chat groups and "sexual content starring both children and adults," according to the report. Diary . Meanwhile, on Facebook Messenger, the complaint says the 13-year-old fake account received messages "filled with photos and videos of genitals, including exposed penises, which she received at least 3 or 4 times a week." The Journal has published a series of reports over the past few months that found disturbing patterns on Facebook and Instagram. More recently, the outlet published an investigation into how Facebook appears to enable and promote groups dedicated to sharing child sexual abuse material.
Meta responded by expanding on the child safety-related terms, phrases, and emoji it uses to find predatory networks. She also stopped recommending groups with members who "exhibit potentially suspicious behavior." "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 authorities, including state attorneys general, to help root out predators," said a Meta spokesperson. he told the Journal . Meta did not immediately respond to The Verge's request for comment. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez claims Meta is downplaying the dangers children face on the platform.