A group of six whistleblowers has reported allegations of a cover-up regarding harm to children from Meta’s virtual reality devices and applications. They assert that the social media giant, which owns Facebook and Instagram, produces a range of VR headsets and games.
“Meta was aware that minors were using its products, but they believed, ‘Hey, kids are driving engagement.’ Meta compromised internal teams, manipulated research, and discarded data that was unfavorable,” they stated.
Sattizahn and other current or former Meta employees, who are also whistleblowers, shared these revelations along with numerous documents with Congress. The Washington Post was the first to publish these claims. Sattizahn and Casesavage, the principal investigators focused on the VR experience for youth users, are set to testify before the US Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and Law this Tuesday.
Meta spokesperson Dani Lever stated that the company has authorized 180 studies concerning VR reality labs since 2022.
“Some of these instances are cherry-picked to support a misleading narrative,” she remarked. Meta further claimed that it has installed features in its VR products to reduce unwanted interactions and provide supervision tools for parents.
The whistleblower allegations were released on Monday, asserting that Meta’s VR products could take further steps to enhance child safety. The whistleblower stated that a company manager directed staff to avoid research that could reveal instances of harm to children in virtual reality.
In one instance, researchers were reportedly instructed to “ignore issues like that.”
In another case, the Washington Post reported that researchers were directed to omit details from interviews conducted with German families. One teenager recounted that his younger brothers, under 10, “often encountered strangers” in Meta’s VR, with “adults making sexual suggestions to his younger brother.”
These claims emerge amidst a steady stream of former Meta employees speaking out against the company for failing to adequately safeguard children from the dangers posed by its social media products. Lawmakers have also criticized Meta executives for promoting content that encourages bullying, substance abuse, and self-harm among young people.
During a Congressional hearing in January 2024, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley compelled Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to publicly express regret.
“I’m sorry for everything you and your family have endured,” Zuckerberg acknowledged at that time. “No one should have to suffer what your family has experienced. This is why we invest heavily and will continue to collaborate across the industry to prevent such suffering.”
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Tennessee Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn stated that Meta’s disclosures regarding its VR products demonstrate the necessity for Congress to enact legislation establishing regulations for social media companies.
“Rather than addressing significant concerns about widespread harm to children on the platform, Meta chose to conceal damning evidence and suppress the voices of innocent children for its interests,” Blackburn criticized. “These whistleblowers deserve commendation for their bravery in revealing Meta’s deceitful practices.”
The six whistleblowers are represented by a legal non-profit organization supporting whistleblowers and are expected to testify before the subcommittee on Tuesday.
Current and former Meta employees have submitted detailed disclosures to Congress, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Source: www.theguardian.com
