Whistleblowers Raise New Allegations

Four individuals who are either currently employed by or formerly worked for Meta have alleged that the company has deliberately restricted research into how its virtual reality (VR) offerings might affect children and teenagers. According to the whistleblowers, Meta’s legal department was tasked with reviewing, and at times vetoing, studies that examined youth safety after earlier internal research was leaked to Congress by Frances Haugen.

Meta’s Response

Meta spokesperson Dani Lever responded by saying the allegations are based on a handful of examples that have been “stitched together to fit a predetermined and false narrative.” Lever highlighted that, since early 2022, Meta has approved nearly 180 Reality Labs‑related studies on social issues, including youth safety and well‑being. The company also noted that its VR devices are intended for users over the age of 13 and that it has rolled out parent supervision tools as a result of its research.

Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

The claims are set to be examined at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled “Hidden Harms: Examining Whistleblower Allegations that Meta Buried Child Safety Research.” Three Republican senators on the committee have already requested additional information about Meta’s protections for children and teens on its Horizon Worlds platform.

WhatsApp Lawsuit

In a separate but related matter, the former head of security at WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, filed a lawsuit alleging the company ignored privacy and security issues that put user information at risk. WhatsApp spokesperson Carl Woog characterized the lawsuit as a “familiar playbook” in which a former employee is dismissed for poor performance and then makes distorted public claims.

Legal Representation and Ongoing Scrutiny

The new whistleblowers are being represented by the nonprofit legal organization Whistleblower Aid, which also assisted Frances Haugen. Both the Meta research controversy and the WhatsApp lawsuit are drawing heightened attention from lawmakers and the public as they assess the company’s handling of safety and privacy concerns across its product suite.

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