South African company wins groundbreaking child porn case against Meta
The Gauteng High Court granted a consent order compelling Meta to take action against child pornography and harmful content on its platforms.
WhatsApp and Facebook. Picture: Pixabay.com
702’s Clement Manyathela speaks with Emma Sadleir, founder of the Digital Law Company.
Listen below:
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has committed to remove harmful content involving children from its platform, and disclose the identities of offenders.
This comes after a legal case by the Digital Law Company (DLC), led by legal expert Emma Sadleir, against Meta.
Meta will be working with DLC over the next two years to ensure South African children are protected from digital exploitation.
They will also remove all Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels reported by DLC to them on behalf of victims, and establish a direct two-year hotline to fast-track child protection matters.
This is the first time a global tech giant has legally agreed to such terms in South Africa according to Sadleir.
“It really is a groundbreaking case.”
- Emma Sadleir, Founder of the Digital Law Company
Sadleir says the case largely focused on the use of WhatsApp channels, which can have unlimited members with zero identifying information, to share harmful content.
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“WhatsApp is actually more dangerous, with less control than any other platforms combined.”
- Emma Sadleir, Founder of the Digital Law Company
She says several of these channels were dedicated to sharing horrific harmful content involving children.
Prior to the court order, when one room was closed another would pop up almost immediately, she continues.
Sadleir urges parents to take an active role in their children’s lives and online presence and suggests delaying giving your children smartphones for as long as possible.
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“I am always asked at what age children should be given a smartphone. When you feel comfortable that your child is ready to see pornography, that is when you can give them a smartphone.”
- Emma Sadleir, Founder of the Digital Law Company
She also suggests that you do not allow children to have smartphones in their room at night when they are alone, as this is when most of this harmful online activity takes place.
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