New Delhi: Paedophile networks use Instagram as their main platform to promote and sell content showing child sexual abuse, according to a damning report by Stanford University and Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
“Large networks of accounts that appear to be operated by minors are openly advertising self-generated child sexual abuse material for sale. Instagram is currently the most important platform for these networks with features like recommendation algorithms and direct messaging that help connect buyers and sellers,” researchers at the US university’s Cyber Policy Center said.
A search for sexually explicit keywords, specifically referencing children, leads to accounts that use these terms to advertise content showing sexual abuse of minors, AFP reported.
The profiles often claim to be driven by the children themselves and use overtly sexual pseudonyms.
The accounts feature menus with options, including in some cases specific sex acts, without specifically saying they sell images.
Offers for videos with bestiality and self-harm were also spotted.
“At a certain price, children are available for in-person ‘meetings’,” the article stated.
It’s a potentially damaging report for the popular social media platform, but Meta, Instagram’s parent company, didn’t immediately respond to AFP’s request for a comment.
According to WSJ, Meta acknowledged problems within its security services and said it had created a task force to address the issues.
In March, pension and investment funds had filed a complaint against Meta for turning a ‘blind eye’ to human trafficking and child sex abuse images on its platforms.
