Mark Zuckerberg apologises amid congressional grilling on online safety of children

In a dramatic congressional hearing addressing online harms to children, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg publicly apologised to parents of victims, acknowledging the devastating impact of sexual exploitation and harassment via social media.

Zuckerberg, alongside Snap Inc CEO Evan Spiegel and three other tech executives, faced scrutiny during the hearing titled “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis.” The session aimed to investigate the alarming rise in online child sexual exploitation, drawing attention from the US Senate judiciary committee.

During the hearing, Spiegel expressed regret for Snap’s inability to prevent teenagers from accessing illegal drugs on Snapchat, as highlighted in a lawsuit filed by parents. He assured the committee that Snap works diligently to block drug-related search terms on its platform.

The opening statements by Zuckerberg raised eyebrows, particularly his assertion that scientific research has not proven a causal link between social media use and worsened mental health in young people. Senator Josh Hawley criticized this statement during the hearing.

The hearing room was filled with families of victims and advocates, with Senator Lindsey Graham accusing social media firms of “destroying lives and threatening democracy.” He emphatically told the executives, “I know you don’t mean it to be so, but you have blood on your hands.”

Committee Chair Dick Durbin labeled online child sexual exploitation a crisis in America, holding executives accountable for design choices that, he argued, put children at risk. Executives defended their platforms, emphasizing the introduction of controls and tools to manage children’s online experiences.

In his prepared remarks, Zuckerberg highlighted Meta’s investment in safety and security, introducing over 30 tools in the past eight years. He disclosed a $20 billion expenditure on safety since 2016 and a workforce of 40,000 dedicated to addressing safety concerns.

A Guardian investigation alleged Meta’s struggle to prevent criminals from exploiting its platforms for child trafficking. New Mexico’s attorney general sued Meta, accusing the company of enabling sexual exploitation of minors.

As Congress considered legislative solutions, executives were repeatedly asked about their support for bills addressing online child safety. Snap Inc and X endorsed the Kids Online Safety Act, but Meta, Discord, and TikTok declined outright support, causing frustration among lawmakers.

Senator Graham expressed skepticism, stating, “If you’re waiting on these guys to solve the problem, we’re going to die waiting.” The debate also touched on the controversial Stop CSAM Act, with X becoming the first big tech firm to endorse it, while others raised concerns about potential civil rights issues due to its focus on encryption.

(with inputs from AFP)