British interior minister Suella Braverman is seeking constructive engagement with Meta's owner on the use of end-to-end encryption on Instagram and Facebook Messenger to safeguard children from sexual assault. Namely, Braverman urged Meta not to enroll encryption on these two platforms unless adequate safety measures are in place to safeguard children from sexual abuse.
Meta claims encryption can protect users from hackers and fraudsters and plans to share updates on its actions, including banning those over 19 from messaging unfollowed teens and using technology to detect inappropriate activity.
With the Online Safety Bill poised to implement stricter regulations, this partnership signifies a significant step towards creating a safer digital environment for young users, setting a precedent for responsible online governance.