Instagram's 'recommended' algorithms have helped a 'vast' network of pedophiles seeking illegal sexual content and activities, according to a shocking report from the Wall Street Journal.
In an article published Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal said it conducted an investigation into child pornography on Instagram in collaboration with researchers at Stanford and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Pedophiles have long used the Internet, but unlike forums and file transfer services that cater to people interested in illegal content, Instagram doesn't just host these activities, its algorithms promote them, according to the site.
Instagram links pedophiles and directs them to content sellers via “recommendations” or “recommendations” systems that excel at connecting those who share special interests, even if they are illegal. According to the report, technical and legal hurdles make identifying the full extent of the child molester network on Instagram "difficult to quantify" for anyone outside the company, Meta, which owns Instagram.
The Stanford research team monitored 405 accounts promoting "child sex" on the app, and these accounts used a special tag linked to the sex of minors. Many accounts promote the sex of minors and their content through Instagram, but they provide it through other sites, which can be accessed through links on Instagram.
The report said other apps such as Snapchat and TikTok do not promote such content to child molesters. For his part, the American billionaire Elon Musk expressed his concern about the shocking report, and published it on his Twitter account, commenting: "It is very disturbing."
A Meta spokesperson said the company is "constantly looking for ways to actively defend against such behavior: "We have set up an internal task force to investigate and promptly address these allegations."
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