Musk slams Meta over leniency toward serious policy violations
What's the story
Elon Musk has criticized Meta over its alleged leniency toward serious policy violations on Instagram and Facebook. The criticism came after newly unsealed court documents revealed that serious offenses related to sex trafficking were given multiple chances before action was taken. In a post on X, Musk highlighted the disparity between how different types of violations are treated by these platforms.
Policy differences
Musk highlights disparity in violation responses
Musk pointed out a claim in the court documents that misgendering a transgender person could result in an instant ban. However, violations related to trafficking were said to have received "17 strikes" before any action was taken. This stark contrast has raised questions about Meta's policy enforcement and its commitment to user safety on its platforms.
Testimony details
Former Instagram safety head's testimony reveals high violation threshold
The allegations against Meta stem from a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The documents include testimony from Vaishnavi Jayakumar, Instagram's former head of safety and well-being. She allegedly testified that accounts could accumulate 16 violations related to prostitution or sexual solicitation before action was taken on the 17th strike.
Allegations against Meta
Lawsuit claims Meta ignored risks to minors
The lawsuit, which has been joined by over 1,800 plaintiffs including school districts and state attorneys general, alleges that Meta was aware of the risks its platforms posed to minors. The filings claim that Meta knew millions of adults were messaging children and features like "Accounts You May Follow" sometimes recommended potentially unsafe profiles to teenage users.
Safety concerns
Plaintiffs claim Meta prioritized engagement over user safety
The lawsuit also alleges that Meta repeatedly flagged internal risks related to teen safety, platform addiction, and harmful interactions. However, plaintiffs claim executives rejected proposals aimed at mitigating these harms out of fear of losing engagement. These decisions allegedly contributed to a "pattern of concealment" where Meta prioritized its business metrics over the safety of young users on its platforms.
Company response
Meta denies allegations, cites broader safety efforts
In response to the lawsuit, Meta has denied the allegations. The company argues that the claims are based on selective interpretations of documents and do not reflect its broader safety efforts. A spokesperson for Meta said the filings contain "cherry-picked" statements and emphasized that the company has invested heavily in parental controls, content moderation technology, and tools to protect teens on its platforms.