The Journal\u2019s investigation highlighted the role played by Instagram\u2019s recommendation algorithms in linking pedophiles to sellers of CSAM.<\/p>\n

\u201cInstagram connects pedophiles and guides them to content sellers via recommendation systems that excel at linking those who share niche interests, the Journal and the academic researchers found,\u201d it wrote.<\/p>\n

\u201cThough out of sight for most on the platform, the sexualized accounts on Instagram are brazen about their interest. The researchers found that Instagram enabled people to search explicit hashtags such as #pedowhore and #preteensex and connected them to accounts that used the terms to advertise child-sex material for sale. Such accounts often claim to be run by the children themselves and use overtly sexual handles incorporating words such as \u201clittle slut for you\u201d.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meta responded to queries put to it by the WSJ ahead of publication by saying it had blocked thousands of hashtags that sexualize children, some of which the Journal\u2019s report specifies had millions of posts.<\/p>\n

The tech giant also said it had restricted its systems from recommending search terms to users that are known to be associated with child sex abuse.<\/p>\n

The WSJ\u2019s report includes a screengrab of a pop-up served by Instagram to researchers involved in the investigation when they searched for a pedophilia-related hashtag \u2014 which warned \u201cthese results may contain images of child sexual abuse\u201d. The text in the notification also described the legal risks of viewing CSAM, the harm sexual abuse causes to children, and suggested resources to \u201cget confidential help\u201d or report \u201cinappropriate\u201d content, before offering two options to the user: \u201cGet resources\u201d or \u201cSee results anyway\u201d \u2014 suggesting the platform was aware of CSAM issues associated with the hashtags yet had failed to remove the content or even block users from accessing it.<\/p>\n

Per the WSJ, Meta only removed the option letting users view suspected CSAM after it had asked about it and its report says the company declined to explain why it had offered such an option in the first place.<\/p>\n

The active role of Instagram\u2019s recommender engine in essentially promoting CSAM sellers accounts looks equally troubling, given the platform was found to be able to identify suspected CSAM \u2014 raising questions about why Meta did not leverage the behavioral surveillance it deploys on users to drive engagement (and boost its ad revenue) by matching accounts to content based on spotting similar platform activity in order to map the pedophile network and shut it down.<\/p>\n

On this Meta told the WSJ it is working on preventing its systems from recommending potentially pedophilic adults connect with one another or interact with one another\u2019s content.<\/p>\n

The Journal\u2019s reporting also chronicles instances where Instagram\u2019s algorithms auto-suggested additional search terms to circumvent a block the platform did apply on links to one encrypted file-transfer service notorious for transmitting child-sex content.<\/p>\n

The WSJ report also details how viewing just one underage seller account on Instagram led the platform to recommend users view new CSAM selling accounts.<\/p>\n

\u201cFollowing the company\u2019s initial sweep of accounts brought to its attention by Stanford and the Journal, UMass\u2019s [Brian Levine, director of the Rescue Lab] checked in on some of the remaining underage seller accounts on Instagram. As before, viewing even one of them led Instagram to recommend new ones. Instagram\u2019s suggestions were helping to rebuild the network that the platform\u2019s own safety staff was in the middle of trying to dismantle,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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