Critics Slam Meta's Encryption Rollout, Citing Child Safety Concerns

Child safety organizations and US prosecutors are criticizing Meta's decision to introduce end-to-end encryption for Facebook and Messenger messages, arguing that it will hinder the rescue of child sex trafficking victims and the prosecution of predators. With encryption, Meta will no longer have access to the contents of messages unless they are reported, making it difficult for social media companies to detect and report abusive and criminal activity. Critics argue that encryption protects personal data and free expression, while proponents of child safety argue that it will create barriers to collecting evidence and prosecuting criminals who target children on Meta platforms.