In response to the growing threat of sextortion, especially against young people, tech giant Meta has announced new initiatives to mark Safer Internet Day on February 6.
Sextortion, the threat to share intimate images unless the victim meets demands for more explicit content, money or sexual favors, has become a pressing issue in the digital age.
Meta, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), announced the expansion of its “Take It Down” program, which is designed to give teens back control of intimate photos of themselves and help prevent people from spreading them online.
Initially launched in English and Spanish, the platform will now be available in 25 languages, reaching millions of teens around the world.
“Take It Down aims to respect the privacy and data security of young people. To begin the process, people can visit TakeItDown.NCMEC.org and follow the instructions to assign a unique hash to their image or video privately and securely from their own device (Digital fingerprint in the form of a digital code).” Yuan explain.
By assigning unique hashes to their images, individuals can discreetly and securely request removal of such content from participating platforms without having to share compromised images themselves.
NCMEC Senior Vice President John Shehan praised Take It Down’s expansion as an important milestone in protecting children around the world from online exploitation. “We are eager to ensure that every child, regardless of language or location, has the opportunity to regain their dignity and privacy,” he said.
Additionally, Meta said it has partnered with Thorn, a company dedicated to Combating sexual abuse, provides updated guidance for teens, parents and teachers on how to recognize and respond to sextortion attempts. These resources provided by the Meta Safety Center are designed to help individuals cope effectively with these distressing situations.
Thorn Senior Manager Kelbi Schnabel emphasized the importance of collaborative action in solving complex challenges such as sextortion. “Our joint initiative is already empowering parents and teens to understand the risks and take action,” Schnabel said.
To raise awareness about sextortion and educate teens about protecting themselves, Meta is also launching a global campaign in partnership with security organizations and content creators.
(edit: Shoma Bhattacharjee)