Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was among the top executives who were grilled by lawmakers in a US Senate hearing on large social media companies not doing enough to safeguard teens online. The Facebook founder found himself in the firing line of Senator Josh Hawley, who sought answers from Zuckerberg on what the company has done to safeguard kids from the sexual exploitation of children that used the Meta-owned platforms.The Silicon Valley executive was then made to apologise to parents during his testimony.
During an intense session with Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Senator Hawley questioned the Meta CEO who did he fire over kids being subjected to sexual exploitation on the platform. Zuckerberg replied by saying, “I’m not gonna answer that.”
He was then asked whether Meta has compensated any of the victims and their families for the challenges they have faced.
“I don’t think so,” Zuckerberg replied.
Hawley then went on to ask whether Zuckerberg has apologised to the parents of the victim, leaving the executive speechless for a few seconds. “Would you like to apologise to them?” he asked. Zuckerberg then got up and apologised to the parents of victims in attendance, sitting behind him.
“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding, “This is why we invest in it so much” and the company is going to continue to invest and work on “industry-wide efforts” to protect children “so that your families don’t suffer.”
Watch the full video here:
During an intense session with Zuckerberg, Republican Missouri Senator Hawley questioned the Meta CEO who did he fire over kids being subjected to sexual exploitation on the platform. Zuckerberg replied by saying, “I’m not gonna answer that.”
He was then asked whether Meta has compensated any of the victims and their families for the challenges they have faced.
“I don’t think so,” Zuckerberg replied.
Hawley then went on to ask whether Zuckerberg has apologised to the parents of the victim, leaving the executive speechless for a few seconds. “Would you like to apologise to them?” he asked. Zuckerberg then got up and apologised to the parents of victims in attendance, sitting behind him.
“I’m sorry for everything you have all been through. No one should go through the things that your families have suffered,” he said, adding, “This is why we invest in it so much” and the company is going to continue to invest and work on “industry-wide efforts” to protect children “so that your families don’t suffer.”
Watch the full video here:
Snap CEO apologises to parents
Evan Spiegel, who is the chief executive of Snap – the parent company of Snapchat – also apologised to parents whose kids overdosed on fentanyl after buying drugs on the platform.
“I’m so sorry that we have not been able to prevent these tragedies,” said Spiegel.