Meta is set to launch a new safety feature later this year, aiming to prevent minors from sending or receiving explicit photos, even within encrypted chats.
This tool may also be extended to adults on Facebook and Instagram as an optional feature.
The initiative is a response to criticism from government and police concerning Meta’s default encryption of Messenger conversations. Authorities argue that this encryption hampers efforts to identify child abuse.
Emphasizing the goal of protecting users, especially women and teenagers, from sharing explicit photos, Meta underscores the significance of this new feature.
Additionally, the company reveals that messages from strangers on Instagram and Messenger will not be accessible by default to minors.
The announcement follows concerns raised by police chiefs about minors sharing inappropriate images, contributing to a rise in child sexual offences.
Meta faces legal scrutiny, with court records suggesting evidence of daily online sexual harassment targeting 100,000 underage Facebook and Instagram users.
Despite criticisms, the company introduces a new feature specifically designed to shield minors from offensive content in their communications. More details on its functionality in encrypted chats will be disclosed later this year.
The decision to implement end-to-end encryption (e2ee) as the default for Facebook Messenger discussions has faced strong opposition from government, law enforcement, and child advocacy groups.
Critics argue that e2ee hinders Meta’s ability to identify and report content containing child abuse, a debate echoed in other messaging apps like Apple’s iMessage, Signal, and WhatsApp.
