Meta vs. FTC: Instagram algorithms probably helped "groomers" to find victims
Instagram algorithms aim to connect users with potential contacts. For adult accounts flagged as problematic, they often recommended a high number of children.
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In 2019, Instagram internally determined that its own algorithms made it significantly easier for potential paedophiles to find potential victims. According to Bloomberg, this was revealed in a document that the US FTC made public in court. It states that almost a third of the accounts that were suggested as contacts for adults with harassing or abusive intentions towards children were accounts belonging to children. Within a period of three months, two million accounts belonging to children were suggested to these so-called "groomers". In total, 7 percent of the accounts that were recommended to adults as contacts belonged to children.
Lots of inappropriate content for children
The figures were published as part of the FTC's legal proceedings against Meta over allegations that the company has an illegal monopoly in the social media sector. A company manager responded that difficulties in protecting young people are not a problem unique to Meta: "These challenges exist throughout the industry." At the same time, however, a spokesperson explained that the document had been taken out of context and was several years old. Its content cannot hide how weak the FTC's arguments are.
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According to the report cited, 3.7 million reports of allegedly inappropriate comments were also analyzed. Around a third of these came from minors. Of these comments deemed inappropriate that children and young people encountered, around 54 percent came from an adult, Bloomberg further quotes. This clearly shows the extent of the problem. According to Meta, the report is available to the FTC because it was submitted years ago in view of a planned takeover. Meta has once again assured that a great deal has been invested in the protection of children on its own platforms.
The document has now been made public as part of the legal proceedings, which were initiated in December 2020 during Donald Trump's first term in office. The FTC is thus attempting to split up Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. With the billion-dollar takeovers, Meta has suppressed competition and eliminated up-and-coming competitors. Meta denies this and explains that the market for social networks, and therefore the competition, is much larger than the FTC claims. The negotiations are expected to last until July. It can be assumed that the losing side will appeal after a ruling and that the dispute will continue for years.
(mho)
