Challenging Snap Inc on their poor record of preventing child sexual abuse material

Yesterday at the Education Committee I challenged Snap Inc’s Global Head of Platform Safety on their poor record of preventing child sexual abuse material on their platform.

According to the NSPCC, 40% of all sexual communication with a child offences in the UK last year occurred on the platform.

It simply cannot be the case, as they contended, that Snap followed “safety by design” principles if this material is so prevalent.

I also asked why Snap cannot stop children on its platform from sending or receiving nude content given that technology is available. Her answer showed that tech companies are doing too little, too late, and children are bearing the brunt of their lack of protection.

That’s why it’s so important that the Government considers introducing regulations to prevent the sharing or receiving of nude pictures by children and an end to stranger communication as part of its plans to better protect children on social media platforms.