Whistleblowers Allege Meta Covered Up Harm to Children in VR

Whistleblowers Allege Meta Covered Up Harm to Children in VR
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A group of six whistleblowers, who are current or former Meta employees, have alleged that the company covered up research showing harm to children on its virtual reality (VR) products, according to a report from The Guardian.

The whistleblowers claim that Meta deleted or manipulated internal safety research that revealed children were being exposed to grooming, sexual harassment, and violence within its virtual realms. One of the whistleblowers, Jason Sattizahn, stated that the company was aware underage users were on its products but prioritized engagement and profit over their safety.

The whistleblowers, represented by the legal non-profit Whistleblower Aid, are scheduled to testify before a U.S. Senate subcommittee and have filed a detailed disclosure with several federal agencies. A Meta spokesperson, however, countered the claims, stating they were being “stitched together to fit a predetermined and false narrative” and that the company had implemented new safety features. The report also notes that Senator Marsha Blackburn has called for legislation to put “guardrails” on social media companies and praised the whistleblowers for exposing what she described as Meta’s “disgusting web of lies.”