NSPCC urges fines for social media giants who fail to protect children

Social media sites should be fined if they fail to protect children from online predators, the NSPCC has said.

The charity said Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram were used in nearly 70% of child grooming offences in England and Wales over 12 months from April 2017.

The NSPCC Cymru likened the “dangerous side” of social media to the “Wild West”, and has now called on the Government’s digital secretary Jeremy Wright and Home Secretary Sajid Javid to introduce an independent regulator with the power to investigate and fine social networks if they fall short in protecting children.

The UK Government has pledged to introduce legislation to keep social networks in check, with a white paper expected in the coming months.

Head of Service at NSPCC Cymru in Wales, Des Mannion, said: “Technology has developed so rapidly that governments, legislation and society have failed to keep up, resulting in social networks often becoming a gateway to child abuse.

“The NSPCC believes the dangerous side of the internet and social media, the ‘Wild West Web’, has claimed too many victims.

“Sites must be required to take proactive steps to detect grooming, so that abuse can be disrupted before it escalates and social networks must be forced to publish annual transparency reports about the scale of abuse on their platforms.

“We already know from police that where the method used in grooming offences is recorded, nearly 70% are happening on Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram.

“The UK Government’s digital secretary Jeremy Wright and home secretary Sajid Javid have the power in their hands and they now need to take effective action.

“Social networks must be properly regulated for the sake of children today and for generations to come.”

The Government, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat have all been approached for comment.