Meta’s $18B child-safety deal hinges on age verification tech that doesn’t work well
The historic settlement reignites ongoing concern around how age-verification technology puts privacy at risk.
Meta has struck a $18 billion settlement with 29 U.S. states over child safety concerns on its platforms. The deal, spanning 10 years, obliges Meta to implement extensive changes to how minors use Instagram and Facebook. However, the financial impact is softened by the length of the payment period, considering Meta's annual revenue surpasses $200 billion.
The heart of the settlement lies in Meta's commitment to new child-safety rules, which hinge on age verification technology that currently suffers from inaccuracies. Meta has not admitted to wrongdoing despite settling allegations of designing its platforms to keep children engaged. The settlement also reignites debates surrounding age verification measures and their potential privacy risks for both children and adults.
Experts remain divided on whether existing age verification technologies can adequately identify minors without compromising privacy.
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