KUALA LUMPUR – United States senators yesterday tore into the top executives of major social media and messaging companies, including Meta and TikTok, accusing them of failing to protect children from sexual predators.
The senators urged swift legislation to address concerns about social media companies prioritising profits over child safety.
During the hearing, Senator Lindsey Graham accused Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg of having “blood on his hands” and a product that is “killing people”, Reuters reported.
The Judiciary Committee discussed the alarming rise in child sexual exploitation, citing changes in technology as a driving factor.
The committee played a video featuring children victimised on social media platforms, and parents holding pictures of their children attended the hearing.
X’s chief executive officer, Linda Yaccarino, expressed support for the STOP CSAM (child sexual abuse material) Act, holding tech companies accountable for the content.
TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew disclosed that there are over 170 million monthly American users and pledged to spend over US$2 billion on trust and safety efforts.
Senator Ted Cruz grilled Zuckerberg on warning screens for child sexual abuse images on Instagram, while Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned the tech industry’s inaction, comparing it to decisive actions taken in other industries.
“Mr Zuckerberg, what the hell were you thinking?” Cruz asked the Facebook founder.
During the hearing, Zuckerberg apologised to victims who attributed their children’s suicide or abuse to social media. He faced criticism from Senator Josh Hawley, who urged him to address the public gallery directly.
“I’m sorry for everything you’ve all gone through,” Zuckerberg told the families of the victims present at the hearing.
‘It’s terrible. No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered.”
On January 26, Meta introduced safety features for underage Instagram and Facebook Messenger users, restricting direct messaging from strangers to those under the age of 16.
Meta also tightened content restrictions on Instagram and Facebook for teens, in response to allegations that they were harming children’s mental health. – February 1, 2023