An MP has accused Meta of turning Facebook Messenger into “Jeffrey Epstein’s private island” by enabling end-to-end encryption.
The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee grilled tech giants X, TikTok, Google and Meta today as part of an inquiry into online misinformation and harmful algorithms.
“Twenty years ago, someone like Gary Glitter had to go to the other side of the world to prey on children,” said Labour MP Paul Waugh to Chris Yiu, one of Meta’s directors of public policy.
“Someone like Jeffrey Epstein had to create his own private paedophile island.
“Now, these monsters, all they have to do is go on to set up a group on Facebook Messenger.”
Mr Waugh was referring to Facebook Messenger’s recent implementation of end-to-end encryption, meaning that no one, not even Facebook, can see the contents of encrypted messages.
Law enforcement agencies also cannot see the messages, which is a constant source of tension between tech companies and governments.
Just last week, Apple removed one of its highest-security tools for users over an alleged request by the Home Office to be able to see its encrypted user data.
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“Isn’t it true that you’ve turned Facebook Messenger into Epstein’s own paedophile island and a place where you can do what you want without getting caught?” asked Mr Waugh.
Mr Yiu denied this was the case and said the issue of online child sexual abuse material needed a “whole of society response” where tech companies and law enforcement agencies worked cooperatively.
He also argued end-to-end encryption is a “fundamental technology designed to keep people safe and protect their privacy”.
The select committee’s inquiry is investigating the spread of harmful content online, sparked by last August’s riots.
The widespread unrest took hold across the country after three young girls were stabbed to death in Southport.
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In the days that followed, illegal content and disinformation spread “widely and quickly” online, according to the communications regulator Ofcom.
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The committee chair Chi Onwurah said Elon Musk, owner of X, was invited to the evidence session but the billionaire did not reply formally.
MP Emily Darlington also quizzed the Meta representative about the company’s recent changes to its content guidelines.
She read out numerous examples of Meta users posting racist, antisemitic and transphobic comments online and asked Mr Yiu how Meta justified allowing those posts to stay online.
“We have received feedback that […] some areas of debates were being suppressed too much on our platform and that some conversations, whilst challenging, should have a space to be discussed,” he said.
X’s representative also faced questions from the MPs, with Ms Darlington asking why verified X users were able to post comments calling politicians rapists and threatening to “rise up and shoot” public figures.
Wifredo Fernandez, X’s senior director for Government Affairs, said he would ask the X team to review the posts.
