After court order, Meta agrees to several steps to shut down child porn distribution on WhatsApp, Instagram in SA
In its urgent application this week, the Johannesburg High Court has ordered US tech firm, Meta, to shut down a number of anonymous Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels, distributing child pornography and sexually exploitative material involving South African school children.
The company said that Meta had shut down the channels and accounts, but did not immediately comply with an order to disclose all identifying information of the account owners.
ALSO READ: Social media law expert sounds alarm on child porn distribution on WhatsApp, Instagram in SA
The Digital Law Company's Emma Sadleir said that Meta had now agreed, through a court-sanctioned joint consent order, to take several decisive steps.
The company will permanently remove, as far as is technically feasible, all Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels reported by the company, on behalf of the victims.
It will also disclose subscriber information for more than 60 offending accounts across both platforms, enabling victims and their families to pursue justice through appropriate legal avenues.
A direct two-year hotline between the Digital Law Company and Meta will also be established to fast-track urgent child protection matters.
"I can tell you that we at the Digital Law Company are absolutely elated at the judgment handed down by the Johannesburg High Court today. We welcome this victory, we will be celebrating."
Sadleir said it was exciting to see the court being brave enough to hand down a judgment against a multi-national tech giant.
In response to a media enquiry by EWN earlier this week, Meta said it had zero tolerance for child sexual exploitation and was committed to ensuring the safety of all users on their platforms.
Meta confirmed that the accounts it was able to identify had been shut down and they had submitted reports to the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children in line with applicable laws.
The company further stated that it would continue to engage with law enforcement and respond to valid legal requests.
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