Technology
Wednesday, January 31st, 2024 4:22 pm EDT
Key Points
- Social media executives, including Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Linda Yaccarino of X (formerly Twitter), Evan Spiegel of Snap, Shou Zi Chew of TikTok, and Jason Citron of Discord, are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child exploitation and safety on their platforms.
- Lawmakers criticize the companies for not adequately addressing the issue of “online child sexual exploitation” on social media apps, aiming to inform legislation to compel firms to enhance child protection. Proposed bills include the Stop CSAM Act and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).
- Meta has faced lawsuits related to the well-being of children on its apps, such as a civil suit by New Mexico’s attorney general alleging that the company’s apps enable sexual predators to exploit children. Privacy advocates express concerns over proposed bills, fearing potential censorship and privacy compromises.
- Social media executives detail efforts to combat child exploitation, emphasizing investments and collaborations with law enforcement. Mark Zuckerberg highlights Meta’s commitment to protecting young people, citing a workforce of 40,000 working on safety and over $20 billion invested since 2016.
- Evan Spiegel details Snap’s initiatives to safeguard children, supporting KOSA and the Cooper Davis Act. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and X CEO Linda Yaccarino express commitment to safety efforts, with TikTok expecting to invest more than $2 billion in trust and safety efforts in 2024.
Leading social media executives, including Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Linda Yaccarino of X (formerly Twitter), Evan Spiegel of Snap, Shou Zi Chew of TikTok, and Jason Citron of Discord, are facing scrutiny from lawmakers in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing focused on child exploitation and safety on their platforms. Lawmakers from both parties criticize the companies for inadequate measures against what they deem a “plague of online child sexual exploitation” on social media apps. The hearing aims to shape legislation compelling these tech firms to enhance child protection. Despite recent lawsuits and regulatory challenges, such as New Mexico’s suit against Meta, investors remain relatively unfazed, anticipating any regulations to take time to pass. The executives detail efforts to combat child exploitation, emphasizing investments and collaborations with law enforcement. Proposed bills like the Stop CSAM Act and Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) are under consideration, aiming to allow victims to sue tech platforms and establish a “duty of care” for firms, respectively. Privacy advocates express concerns about potential censorship and privacy compromises, emphasizing the need for balanced legislation. While acknowledging ongoing challenges, the executives commit to collaborating with stakeholders to improve child safety across the internet.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/31/ceos-of-meta-tiktok-x-and-other-social-media-firms-to-testify-at-hearing-on-child-safety.html
