Meta introduces new child protection measures following notification from Indian government

After receiving a notification from the government, Meta announced on Tuesday the implementation of a new set of measures aimed at combating child exploitation across all its platforms. These steps were taken amid pressure from the Indian government, which had previously commented on advertisements on Instagram containing alleged material of child sexual abuse.

Company actions to eliminate violations

In its blog, Meta reported that even before public disclosure of the issue, the company had already detected and disabled several violating ads and accounts. Subsequent investigations led to the removal of additional advertising materials, the blocking of more accounts, and the banning of URLs associated with policy-violating content.

Use of technology for control

Meta uses advanced artificial intelligence tools to identify accounts that spread suspicious links off-platform, as well as other signs related to child exploitation. The company specified that in India alone, 160,000 accounts were removed in the last six months thanks to these measures.

Meta's stance and global measures

The company rejected claims that its advertising systems intentionally targeted users with inappropriate interests in children. Meta stated that its technologies are capable of recognizing suspicious behavior, and last year it removed over four million accounts worldwide due to potentially suspicious activity related to children.

To verify ads and monitor advertiser behavior, the company combines automated systems with manual review. Businesses that violate Meta's community or advertising standards may face restrictions or complete ad bans on Meta platforms.

Investments in content safety

Furthermore, Meta highlighted its investments in developing artificial intelligence to improve content moderation. The company's AI systems now support moderation in languages used by 98% of internet users. The company reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with law enforcement agencies and industry partners, continuing to invest in new technologies, intelligence sharing, and strengthening online child protection measures.

timesofindia.indiatimes.comJuly 6, 24:41

Government directs Meta to immediately stop advertising sexual violence against children on Instagram

The Indian government sent a stern notification to Meta on Saturday evening, demanding the immediate disabling of all paid advertising and content on Instagram that promotes or facilitates access to materials related to Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (CSEAM).

Ministry's Demands

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) gave Meta seven days to provide a detailed explanation regarding how such advertising could appear on Instagram, what checks were conducted before launch, and what corrective measures have been taken.

According to government sources, these advertisements were allegedly used to direct users to external platforms where illegal material concerning child sexual abuse was hosted. The Ministry demanded that Instagram immediately block all such advertising and associated content, as well as implement protective mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Meta's Stance and Crime Fighting

The government is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness, especially in light of the alleged 'algorithmic amplification' of sexually exploitative content on a major social media platform. Officials noted that paid promotions must undergo stricter scrutiny than regular user posts, and the company must explain why its moderation systems failed to detect such content.

A Meta representative stated that the company adheres to a 'zero tolerance' policy towards requests or dissemination of CSEAM, including it in advertisements. He added that the company uses advanced artificial intelligence technologies for proactively identifying violating content and individuals, but constantly battles criminals hiding among 3.5 billion users who try to evade detection. Therefore, expert teams are working to improve protection, develop new technologies to identify predators, block links to prohibited sites, and exchange information with other companies for joint action.

This notification was issued following reports that advertising on Instagram was being used in India to promote materials about child sexual abuse.

olhardigital.com.brJune 30, 17:47

Meta faces legal defeat in the US over allegations of child addiction and data protection failures

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, suffered a legal setback in the United States in a lawsuit raising serious accusations about the effects of social media on young audiences. Although the action is ongoing, the company failed to dismiss the litigation.

Federal Court Decision

A federal judge denied Meta's request to dismiss the case, which was initiated by the attorneys general of several American states. The analysis was conducted by Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, based in Oakland, California. This means that the allegations remain active and valid within the judicial system.

Core Allegations of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit covers dozens of US states and focuses on claims that the platforms' systems were intentionally designed to promote excessive use among young people. Furthermore, there are suspicions that the company failed to ensure proper protection of minors' data.

Regulation and Child Consent

At the heart of the dispute is the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, legislation that establishes rules for handling children's information online. The court pointed to evidence that there were failures in the process of obtaining parental consent. As determined by the ruling, the obligations regarding communication with parents were not met correctly. The case is still in its preliminary phase, without an established date for the final trial.