ECPAT-USA Urges Facebook Shareholders To Put Child Protection First

On May 27th, Facebook shareholders can vote on a resolution requiring the company to assess the risk of increased sexual exploitation of children resulting from the implementation of end-to-end encryption on its platform. 

This is not a vote that shareholders should take lightly.

Alarmingly, social media sites are already being used to facilitate the exploitation of our most vulnerable population. In 2019, Facebook or its holdings, including Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp, were named in 15.8 million reports of child sexual abuse materials. This represents 94% of all CSAM reports last year. 

As Executive Director of ECPAT-USA, the nation's leader in combating child exploitation and trafficking, I have seen firsthand the severe and lasting consequences when a company chooses to put profits over the safety of our children. For Facebook to implement encryption without a clear picture of its impact on child safety is irresponsible and bad business. 

ECPAT-USA stands with sex trafficking survivors and activists around the world in urging Facebook shareholders to vote “yes” on the measure, a vote that will, quite literally, save the lives of countless children.