Former Meta safety researchers, Jason Sattizahn and Cayce Savage, delivered explosive testimony before a US Senate committee, alleging that the tech giant deliberately concealed evidence of potential harm to children on its virtual reality (VR) platforms. Their claims, echoing previous accusations of prioritizing profits over user safety, paint a concerning picture of Meta's internal practices.
Sattizahn and Savage, who led research on youth user experiences for Meta's VR products, asserted that Meta lawyers actively intervened to manipulate internal research findings, suppressing evidence of sexual abuse risks within the VR ecosystem. They further alleged that Meta discouraged research that could reveal the harmful effects of its VR products on children, effectively burying crucial data related to child safety.
Meta vehemently denied these accusations, characterizing the claims as "nonsense" and a "false narrative" built on selectively leaked internal documents. The company countered that it has approved nearly 180 studies on youth safety and well-being related to its Reality Labs, asserting that there were no limitations on conducting such research.
However, Sattizahn dismissed Meta's response as a "lie by avoidance," insisting that the company's research is deliberately "pruned and manipulated." Savage's testimony included a particularly disturbing revelation: she identified coordinated pedophile rings using Roblox, a popular children's online game platform available on Meta's VR headsets, to exploit children using the app's virtual currency. Despite flagging this critical issue to Meta, Roblox remains accessible on the Meta VR app store.
Roblox issued a statement strongly disagreeing with the allegations, emphasizing its commitment to safety and robust moderation systems. However, the whistleblowers' testimony highlighted significant concerns regarding the effectiveness of Meta's parental controls, with Senator Ashley Moody of Florida detailing her own difficulties navigating these features. This underscores the broader challenge of effectively protecting children in the increasingly complex digital landscape.
This incident is not an isolated event; it follows a pattern of allegations against Meta regarding its handling of user safety, especially concerning children. Previous accusations by former employee Frances Haugen, regarding Instagram's impact on teenage mental health, echo similar concerns about the company’s prioritization of profits over the well-being of its young users. The Senate hearing serves as another significant chapter in the ongoing debate surrounding the responsibility of tech giants to protect children from online harms.
---
Originally published at: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y8x3md05no
