Several former Meta researchers have testified that the company intentionally concealed studies about child risks in its virtual reality (VR) platforms. They say the company used lawyers to edit or block sensitive reports after they were investigated by Congress in 2021.
Cayce Savage, a former researcher at the company, said that Meta knew that many underage children were on its VR services but they were just ignoring it. A 2017 report even said that in some virtual rooms, as many as 80% to 90% of users were underage.
The documents also show that researchers were advised to be careful in using words such as “illegal” or “illegal.” The goal is said to be to create plausible deniability or to make it seem as if the company is not responsible if problems arise.
Meta has strongly denied the allegations, calling them a misrepresentation. Their representative insists they continue to work on safety protections for children. But according to Jason Sattizahn, it's clear the company won't change without pressure from Congress.
