Meta Executives Warned Facebook Messenger Encryption Plan Irresponsible

Recent court filings in New Mexico have revealed that Meta executives were aware of the potential dangers posed by their plan to implement end-to-end encryption on Facebook Messenger and Instagram, yet proceeded with the initiative regardless. Monika Bickert, Meta's head of content policy, expressed grave concerns in an internal chat, stating, "We are about to do a bad thing as a company. This is so irresponsible," highlighting the internal conflict over the encryption plan's implications for child safety. The lawsuit, initiated by New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, accuses Meta of enabling child predators to exploit underage users, with the trial marking a significant legal challenge against the company regarding its handling of child exploitation cases. This case is part of a broader wave of litigation against Meta, which includes claims from over 40 attorneys general regarding the mental health impacts of its platforms on youth.