Two former safety researchers from Meta testified before a U.S. Senate committee, alleging that the company is concealing potential dangers of its virtual reality (VR) products for children. Jason Satisarne claimed that Meta ignored evidence of negative user experiences, while both he and Cayce Savage alleged that the company obstructed research that might expose harm. A whistleblower report noted that Meta’s legal counsel intervened to influence an internal study that could highlight risks associated with its products.
Meta has strongly denied these allegations, labeling them as “nonsense” and asserting that claims were based on selectively leaked documents. The company emphasized that there were no restrictions on research studies it approved regarding the safety and well-being of young users.
Savage raised concerns during her testimony about the online gaming platform Roblox, stating it had been implicated in the exploitation of children. Despite this, Roblox continues to be available on Meta’s VR App Store, with the company asserting that safety is its top priority and that it actively works to protect users.
During the hearing, Florida Sen. Ashley Moody criticized the difficulty of navigating Meta’s parental controls, highlighting the challenges even knowledgeable individuals face in managing safety tools for their children. This testimony adds to a growing list of allegations against Meta, including previous claims by whistleblower Frances Haugen regarding Instagram’s negative impact on teenagers’ mental health. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has countered that the company’s focus on profit over safety is untrue.
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