'That Is Completely Disgusting': Blackburn Speaks To Facebook Whistleblower About Threats To Kids

Summary

In this hearing, Senator Blumenthal and others discuss the harmful practices of Meta, particularly in relation to its targeting of children with emotional state-based ads. They highlight the lack of response to cyberbullying and the company's failure to act on concerns raised by parents, child psychiatrists, and principals. The conversation delves into how Meta manipulates vulnerable teens' data for profit, tracks their online activities, and fails to implement protective measures, despite having knowledge of the harm caused. The panel also touches on the broader implications of data privacy, with a particular focus on the company's operations in China.

Takeaways

• 😀 Meta has been accused of targeting vulnerable children with ads based on their emotional state, which some argue is cruel and exploitative.
• 😀 The Kids Online Safety Act, which had bipartisan support in the Senate, failed in the House due to heavy lobbying by Meta, despite their claims to care for children.
• 😀 Meta's refusal to address issues like cyberbullying and children's mental health has led to widespread criticism from parents, teachers, and child psychiatrists.
• 😀 Mark Zuckerberg's statements about turning over a new leaf are seen with skepticism, with concerns about whether these changes are genuine or temporary.
• 😀 Meta denied targeting children with ads based on their emotional state, but whistleblowers revealed this was a lie, with research confirming the company's knowledge of the issue.
• 😀 Facebook was reportedly targeting 13-17-year-olds who felt depressed or worthless, using this emotional data to push products, like beauty products after a girl deletes a selfie.
• 😀 Meta tracked online activity across different apps, not just within their own platforms, sharing this data with advertisers to maximize profit.
• 😀 Meta's vast amount of data on individuals, including private messages, is stored in a central server and could be accessed, potentially raising security and privacy concerns, especially if shared with foreign entities like China.
• 😀 Despite acknowledging the harm to children, Meta's leadership, including Mark Zuckerberg, allegedly vetoed internal recommendations to protect kids or improve privacy, citing cost concerns.
• 😀 Meta prioritizes profit over user protection, particularly for vulnerable groups like children aged 13-17, who are viewed as valuable but at-risk users for exploitation.

Q & A

What is the Kids Online Safety Act, and what happened to it in the legislative process?

The Kids Online Safety Act is a piece of legislation aimed at improving online safety for children. It passed through the Senate with overwhelming support (91-3) but failed in the House, partially due to lobbying efforts from Meta, which spent millions opposing the bill despite claiming to care about children's safety.

How did Meta allegedly engage in harmful practices targeting children online?

Meta allegedly targeted children, specifically 13 to 17-year-olds, with ads based on their emotional states. For example, if a child felt worthless or deleted a selfie, Meta would share this data with advertisers to market products to them, especially when the child was vulnerable.

What did the whistleblower reveal about Meta's response to harmful practices?

The whistleblower revealed that Meta was fully aware of its harmful practices but chose to deny them, claiming they did not engage in targeting children. Additionally, Meta refused to audit these activities, which allowed them to continue exploiting children for profit.

How did Meta's leadership respond to accusations about their involvement in harming children?

Meta's leadership, particularly Mark Zuckerberg, has claimed that they have turned over a new leaf regarding their responsibility for children's safety. However, the senator questioned whether this is a genuine change or just a seasonal shift in approach, emphasizing the need for accountability.

What was Meta's role in terms of online advertisements targeting vulnerable children?

Meta allowed advertisers to target children with ads based on their emotional states. For example, they would serve beauty product ads to 13-year-old girls who deleted selfies, exploiting emotional vulnerability for financial gain.

What type of data does Meta collect on users, especially concerning Facebook servers in China?

Meta collects vast amounts of data on its users, including private messages, transactions, and app usage. This data is stored on servers, including those in China, raising concerns about the potential access the Chinese government might have to this sensitive information.

How does Meta build a 'virtual you' for each user?

Meta creates a detailed digital profile for each user by tracking their activities across various apps, transactions, and interactions. This extensive data collection allows Meta to create a virtual representation of the individual.

Why did Mark Zuckerberg allegedly veto recommendations to improve child protection on Meta platforms?

Mark Zuckerberg and other executives at Meta allegedly vetoed recommendations to improve child protection because they were deemed too costly. Despite the company's responsibility to protect children and users, financial considerations appeared to outweigh ethical concerns.

What was the role of Meta in influencing the behavior of children through advertisements?

Meta allegedly influenced children's behavior by targeting them with ads when they were emotionally vulnerable, such as when they felt down or deleted posts. This practice was designed to exploit these emotional states to increase the likelihood of making a purchase.

What is the broader implication of storing user data on servers in China?

Storing user data on servers in China raises serious concerns about privacy and national security, as it could potentially allow the Chinese government, via the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), access to sensitive personal data, which could be used for political or economic gain.