The warning screen option was removed in June of last year, but only after The Wall Street Journal reported on it and pressed the company for details about why it permitted the abusive content on the platform in the first place.At the time, Instagram refused to tell the Journal when the warning screen option was first created, or why, or by whom. The black screen notified viewers that forthcoming search results “may contain images of child sexual abuse” and then noted that viewing such images is a crime.
Nonetheless, at the bottom of the warning widget there was another option: “See results anyway.”A Meta spokesperson replied to CNBC’s request for comment on the senators’ letter by noting that the warning screen button isn’t shown anymore.At the Senate hearing, Cruz pressed Zuckerberg to reveal how many times the warning screen had been displayed, as well as how many times users saw the warning screen and clicked on the “See results anyway” option.
The Instagram boss said he did not know the details and promised to “personally look into” it and answer their questions. Now, almost two weeks later, Cruz is following up with a formal congressional request for records. The letter Monday also asked Zuckerberg to detail whether Meta ever conducted further investigations into the users who clicked “See results anyway,” and how many minors’ profiles had been viewed behind the warning screen.
A detailed explanation of Meta’s decision to remove the warning screen was also on the list of demands, as well as all documents related to Meta’s development of the screen and the decision to display it. The letter comes as both Republicans and Democrats have vowed to pass legislation to hold social media companies more accountable for child sexual abuse content that appears on their platforms.
Nonetheless, at the bottom of the warning widget there was another option: “See results anyway.”A Meta spokesperson replied to CNBC’s request for comment on the senators’ letter by noting that the warning screen button isn’t shown anymore.At the Senate hearing, Cruz pressed Zuckerberg to reveal how many times the warning screen had been displayed, as well as how many times users saw the warning screen and clicked on the “See results anyway” option.
The Instagram boss said he did not know the details and promised to “personally look into” it and answer their questions. Now, almost two weeks later, Cruz is following up with a formal congressional request for records. The letter Monday also asked Zuckerberg to detail whether Meta ever conducted further investigations into the users who clicked “See results anyway,” and how many minors’ profiles had been viewed behind the warning screen.
A detailed explanation of Meta’s decision to remove the warning screen was also on the list of demands, as well as all documents related to Meta’s development of the screen and the decision to display it. The letter comes as both Republicans and Democrats have vowed to pass legislation to hold social media companies more accountable for child sexual abuse content that appears on their platforms.