Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologizes to parents of victims of online exploitation in heated Senate hearing

Mark Zuckerberg, the chief govt of Meta, apologized to households who stated their kids had been harmed by social media use throughout a heated listening to on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. 

The apology got here as Zuckerberg, whose agency owns social media platforms Fb and Instagram, answered questions at a U.S. Senate Judiciary listening to on the affect of social media on kids. The listening to checked out little one sexual exploitation on-line, and in addition included CEOs from Discord, Snap, X and TikTok, and featured a video of youngsters talking about their experiences with on-line bullying, abuse and extra. 

Committee chair Dick Durbin bashed the platforms for failing to guard kids, and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham instructed Zuckerberg that he had “blood on his arms” from a “product that is killing folks.” Households additionally attended the listening to, some holding indicators sharing their kids’s tales. 

When Zuckerberg was requested by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley if he want to apologize to victims harmed by his product, the Meta CEO addressed households in attendance immediately. 

“I am sorry for every thing you’ve got all been by way of,” Zuckerberg stated. “Nobody ought to undergo the issues that your households have suffered and for this reason we make investments a lot and we’re going to proceed doing industry-wide efforts to verify nobody has to undergo the issues your households have needed to endure.” 

Zuckerberg and different social media CEOs touted their little one security procedures on-line. Meta has beforehand stated that it has spent $5 billion on security and safety in 2023. 

The CEOs additionally stated they’d work with lawmakers, dad and mom, nonprofits and legislation enforcement to guard minors. Zuckerberg declined to decide to Hawley’s suggestion that he arrange a sufferer’s compensation fund. 

A rising variety of lawmakers are urging measures to curb the unfold of kid sexual abuse photos on-line and to carry know-how platforms higher accountable to safeguard kids. The Senate listening to is a part of an effort to cross laws after years of regulatory inaction by Congress.