To combat the growing threat of sextortion, particularly among young people, tech giant Meta has announced new efforts to mark Safer Internet Day on February 6.
Sextortion, the act of threatening to share intimate images unless victims comply with demands for more explicit content, money, or sexual favours, has become a pressing concern in the digital age.
Meta, in collaboration with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), announced the expansion of ‘Take It Down,’ a programme designed to empower teens to reclaim control over their intimate images and help prevent people from spreading them online.
Initially launched in English and Spanish, the platform will now be available in 25 languages, extending its reach to millions of teens globally.
“Take It Down was designed to respect young people’s privacy and data security. To start the process, people can go to TakeItDown.NCMEC.org and follow the instructions to assign a unique hash — a digital fingerprint in the form of a numerical code — to their image or video, privately and securely from their own device,” Meta said.
By assigning a unique hash to their images, individuals can discreetly and securely request the removal of such content from participating platforms, without sharing the compromising images themselves.
John Shehan, Senior Vice President at NCMEC, hailed the expansion of Take It Down as a significant milestone in safeguarding children worldwide from online exploitation. "We aspire to ensure that every child, regardless of language or location, has the opportunity to reclaim their dignity and privacy," he remarked.
Furthermore, Meta said it has collaborated with Thorn, a nonprofit dedicated to combatting sexual abuse, to provide updated guidance for teens, parents, and teachers on how to recognise and respond to sextortion attempts. These resources, available in Meta's Safety Center, aim to empower individuals to navigate these distressing situations effectively.
Kelbi Schnabel, Senior Manager at Thorn, highlighted the importance of collaborative action in addressing complex challenges like sextortion. "Our joint initiative is already empowering parents and teens to understand the risks and take action," Schnabel stated.
To raise awareness of sextortion and equip teens with the knowledge to protect themselves, Meta is also launching a global campaign in partnership with safety organisations and content creators.
In addition to these measures, Meta continues to enhance safety features across its platforms, such as displaying ‘safety notices’ on Instagram to alert users of potentially suspicious behaviour and implementing stricter message settings to protect minors from unwanted contact.
