Meta Accused of Suppressing VR Safety Research for Kids
▼ Summary
– A new group of whistleblowers alleges that Meta is restricting research into how its VR offerings could negatively impact kids and teens.
– Four current and former Meta staffers claim the company used lawyers to screen and sometimes veto research on VR and youth safety after Frances Haugen’s leaks.
– Meta denies the allegations, stating that since 2022 it has approved nearly 180 studies on social issues including youth safety and well-being.
– The company asserts its VR devices are made for people over 13 and that its research has led to product updates like parent supervision tools.
– These allegations are expected to be the focus of an upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety research at Meta.
A fresh wave of whistleblowers has come forward with claims that Meta is actively suppressing research into the potential harms its virtual reality products may pose to children and adolescents. According to a recent report, the tech giant is facing renewed scrutiny over its handling of internal studies related to youth safety in VR environments.
Four individuals currently or formerly employed by Meta have alleged that following the high-profile disclosures by Frances Haugen, the company directed its legal department to review and occasionally block investigations into how VR affects young users. These new sources, represented by the legal advocacy group Whistleblower Aid, the same organization that assisted Haugen, suggest a pattern of interference aimed at limiting unfavorable findings.
In response to these accusations, Meta spokesperson Dani Lever issued a statement characterizing the claims as misleading. Lever emphasized that the company has approved close to 180 studies since early 2022 focusing on social issues, with many addressing youth safety and well-being. She also highlighted that Meta’s VR devices are intended for users aged 13 and above and pointed to recent product enhancements, including improved parental supervision tools, as evidence of the company’s commitment to safety.
These allegations are set to feature prominently in an upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Hidden Harms: Examining Whistleblower Allegations that Meta Buried Child Safety Research.” The session will explore whether the company deliberately sidelined concerning data. Ahead of the hearing, three Republican committee members have already pressed Meta for more details regarding its safeguards for minors on the Horizon Worlds platform.
(Source: The Verge)
