PRITI Patel will today accuse Facebook with fury of trying to “blind itself” to the abuse of sick children on its sites.
The Home Secretary will tear up the tech giant’s hugely controversial plans to encrypt all of its Facebook and Instagram posts.
The move will mean cops will no longer be able to see the messages – fueling fears, even more grooming gangs and pedophiles will use them to prey on children.
In a lightning attack on Facebook, Ms. Patel will warn that this decision is “not acceptable” and “will jeopardize” all the work done to crack down on the abuses.
Speaking at an NSPCC event, she will say: “Sadly, at a time when we need to act more, Facebook is pursuing end-to-end encryption plans that jeopardize the good work and progress made so far. now.
“The crimes will continue, the images of abused children will proliferate.
“But the company intends to blind itself to this problem with end-to-end encryption that prevents access to email content.
“This is unacceptable. We cannot allow a situation where the ability of law enforcement to tackle heinous criminal acts and protect victims is severely hampered.
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“Simply deleting accounts from a platform is far from sufficient. “
Meanwhile, the NSPCC warns that private messages on social media sites are the new “front line on child sexual abuse.”
The charity says young people are being targeted with questionable texts and messages on WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
They implore Facebook to tear up their plan to keep all messages shared on their platform secret.
Sir Peter Wanless, Managing Director of NSPCC, said: “Private messaging is the front line of child sexual abuse, but the current debate around end-to-end encryption risks leaving children unprotected where it is needed. there is the most harm.
“The public wants to end the rhetoric that heats up the problem but sheds little light on a solution, so it is in the interests of businesses to find a fix that allows them to continue using technology to disrupt business. abuse in an end-to-end encrypted system. world.
“We need a coordinated response across society, but at the end of the day, government must be the safeguard that protects child users if tech companies choose to endanger them with dangerous design choices. . ”
A whopping 55% of adults say tracking down child pornography is more important than respecting a person’s privacy, a YouGov poll of more than 2,000 adults.
The charity is calling for a “reset” and asking tech giants to do more to protect children online.
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