Today, Meta announced its decision to introduce end to end encryption across all Facebook and Messenger chats.
In response to the news, our Chief Executive Deborah Denis has issued a statement about the potential child safety implications of this decision.
Deborah Denis said: “Meta’s decision to introduce end to end encryption on more of its platforms is profoundly disheartening and one that strikes a blow to child sexual abuse prevention.
We know from our decades of experience that abuse thrives in secrecy and this new layer of protection means Meta’s will become the platforms of choice for those who seek to sexually abuse children online.
We also know that online child sexual abuse is a growing issue and in just two years our Stop It Now helpline has seen a 64% increase in contacts from people concerned about online grooming. So, this is the wrong decision, in the wrong context, at the wrong time.
We urge Meta to consider the many thousands of young victims of online sexual abuse every year and to ensure the necessary child safety measures are put in place to keep their platforms safe.
We mustn’t throw children to the wolves.”
Our Stop It Now helpline, self help and programmes are there to help anyone concerned about child sexual abuse. Shore is for teenagers worried about sexual behaviour.
Our helpline 0808 1000 900
2 Birch House, Harris Business Park, Hanbury Road
Stoke Prior, Bromsgrove, B60 4DJ
Lucy Faithfull Foundation is a registered charity in England and Wales No. 1013025 Scottish Charity No. SC039888, and is a company limited by guarantee, Registered in England No. 2729957.
