Meta has announced plans to launch a new safety tool aimed at blocking children from receiving and discouraging them from sending explicit images, even in encrypted chats. The optional feature is expected to be available to adults on both Instagram and Facebook. This move comes in response to concerns raised by government and law enforcement agencies after Meta initiated default encryption for Messenger chats, making it more challenging to detect child abuse.
The primary objective of this tool is to protect users, particularly women and teenagers, from the sending and receiving of explicit images. Meta emphasized that individuals under the age of 13 are not permitted to use its platforms. The company also revealed that minors will be automatically prevented from receiving messages on Instagram and Messenger from strangers.
This announcement follows recent criticism from police chiefs who linked the rise in sexual offenses committed by children in England and Wales to the sharing of explicit images by youngsters. Legal filings in a US lawsuit against Meta alleged that around 100,000 teenage users of Facebook and Instagram face online sexual harassment daily. Meta, however, refutes these claims, asserting mischaracterization of its efforts.
Meta decision to encrypt Facebook Messenger chats by default drew widespread criticism. Critics argue that end-to-end encryption (e2ee) makes it difficult for Meta to detect and report child abuse material. In response, Meta unveiled plans for a new feature designed to protect teenagers from inappropriate images in their messages, even in encrypted chats. The details of this system are expected to be disclosed later this year.
Despite criticism, Meta defends its stance on e2ee, emphasizing that it preserves user privacy. The company clarified that its upcoming feature is not client-side scanning, a technique that some critics recommend for detecting child abuse in encrypted apps. Instead, Meta's solution relies on machine learning to identify nudity, operating entirely on the user's device.
To enhance child safety, Meta has introduced over 30 tools and resources, including measures to identify suspicious adult behavior and restrict their interactions with minors. Additionally, the company announced new child safety features, such as default settings preventing children from receiving messages from individuals they do not follow or are not connected to. Parental supervision tools have also been enhanced to allow parents to deny teenagers' requests to change safety settings, providing greater control over online interactions.
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