Meta’s 17-Strike Policy Revealed
Former safety chief exposes shocking sex trafficking tolerance at Meta
In a recent lawsuit testimony, a former safety executive at Meta disclosed that the company operated under a 17-strike policy concerning sex trafficking content on its platforms. This meant that users or content could violate Meta’s policies related to sex trafficking up to 17 times before facing permanent consequences such as bans or content removal. The revelation has sparked outrage and concern over Meta’s commitment to user safety and the effectiveness of their content moderation strategies.
The testimony sheds light on the internal challenges Meta faces in balancing content moderation with user engagement and platform growth. Critics argue that such a high threshold for punitive action effectively allows traffickers and harmful content to persist on social networks, potentially endangering vulnerable individuals. Meta has yet to publicly address the details of this policy or outline steps to improve its approach to combating sex trafficking on its sites.
This disclosure highlights ongoing scrutiny of tech platforms’ responsibilities in managing illegal and harmful content. As social media companies continue to expand their user base and influence, transparency and accountability in content enforcement are becoming increasingly critical to protect users and uphold public trust.