Facebook and Instagram Encryption Program Under Fire for Aiding Online Child Predators

Facebook and Instagram have come under fire for a new encryption program that critics argue makes it harder to track down online child predators. The encryption, launched earlier this month, ensures that only the sender and recipient can see the contents of direct messages on the platforms. Former employees and experts have raised concerns about the potential for this software to shield predators who prey on children. The controversy surrounding encryption on these platforms has been ongoing for a few years, with former engineering director David Erb resigning from Meta (formerly Facebook) in 2019 in protest of the initiative. According to Erb, the encryption software would shield predators who preyed upon children, an allegation supported by the case of Karl Quitter in 2020, who used an alias to solicit sexually explicit photos and videos of teenage girls via Facebook. While Meta claims to have a list of child safety efforts and collaborates with organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, critics argue that the encryption can be misused by individuals with malicious intentions, including child predators. This issue raises important questions about the balance between user privacy and child safety online.