What was Meta's alleged '17 strikes' policy?

The policy reportedly allowed accounts to commit up to 16 violations related to prostitution and sexual solicitation before suspension.

Did Meta have a way to report child sexual abuse material in 2020?

A former employee testified that Meta did not have a specific way to report child sexual abuse material on Instagram in March 2020.

How is Meta being compared to 'Big Tobacco' in the lawsuit?

The lawsuit alleges Meta targets young users for profit, knowingly creating addictive platforms that harm teen mental health, similar to tobacco companies.

Home / Technology / Meta's '17 Strikes' Policy Exposed in Lawsuit

Meta's '17 Strikes' Policy Exposed in Lawsuit

23 Nov

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Summary

Meta allegedly had a 17-strike policy for human trafficking offenses.
Ex-employee claims Meta lacked CSAM reporting in 2020.
Lawsuit alleges Meta profits from teen addiction like 'Big Tobacco'.

Meta's '17 Strikes' Policy Exposed in Lawsuit

A former Meta employee's testimony has brought to light a controversial "17 strikes" policy, under which accounts engaged in human trafficking could allegedly incur 16 violations before suspension. This revelation comes amid a significant lawsuit accusing Meta, alongside other tech giants, of contributing to a teen mental health crisis. The former head of safety and well-being for Instagram stated that in March 2020, the company lacked a specific mechanism for reporting child sexual abuse material, a concern she reportedly raised multiple times.

The lawsuit contends that Meta deliberately targets younger demographics for advertising revenue, a strategy likened to "Big Tobacco," by knowingly designing addictive platforms that lead to serious mental health issues. Plaintiffs argue that Meta omitted crucial parental and teacher safeguards, prioritizing profit over the well-being of its youngest users. This alleged business model has drawn sharp criticism, with legal representatives emphasizing the harmful nature of the products marketed to children.