Congress Must Hold Big Tech to Account
Washington, DC (October 5, 2021) – The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) calls on Congress to find solutions to hold Facebook and other tech companies accountable for protecting children, following explosive testimony from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen at a U.S. Senate hearing today.
“Frances Haugen confirmed what NCOSE has warned for years: Facebook routinely choses profit over safety. The company is, in fact, structured to do so,” Dawn Hawkins, CEO of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
“Haugen’s heroic revelations indict Big Tech beyond Facebook. All similar digital platforms share the same lack of accountability provided by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
“Time and again, Big Tech has proven that it cannot regulate itself, and therefore Congress must step in. Otherwise, predators and pimps will continue to take advantage of the dangerous tech ecosystems to identify and exploit teens and children.
“There are a number of things Congress can do: Require age-appropriate safeguards by default on platforms likely to be used by children. Raise the digital age of adulthood from 13 to 17 as required by the PRIVCY Act. Appoint a new federal e-safety commissioner to improve oversight in real time, a reform implemented by Australia. Pass the EARN IT Act, to confront the explosion of child sexual abuse material on tech platforms. At the very least, Congress must continue to investigate Facebook and other tech platforms. It is past time to confront Big Tech,” Hawkins added.
