Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg issued an apology to parents of children died or suffered harm from abuse from using social media.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) grilled Zuckerberg for not compensating parents of victims of online abuse.
“Your product is killing people,” Hawley said during a Senate hearing on “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis.”
He asked Zuckerberg if he would like apologize to parents who had children who died or suffered harm.
“There’s families of victims here today. Have you apologized to the victims? Would you like to do so now? They’re here, you’re on national television. Would you like now to apologize to the victims who have been harmed by your products?… Would you like to apologize for what you’ve done to these good people?” he asked.
Zuckerberg stood up said he was “sorry” for “the things that your families have suffered.”
Watch the moment below:
Hawley just called on Zuckerberg to apologize directly to the the families in the audience of victims who were impacted by child sexual exploitation on Meta platforms.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 31, 2024
Zuck then gets up and does it. pic.twitter.com/YJWCcZDAC7
He added, “This is why we invest so much and we are going to continue doing industry wide efforts to make sure no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer.”
During the same hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Zuckerberg he has “blood” on his hands.
He referred to the case of South Carolina State Rep. Brandon Guffey, who has filed lawsuit against Instagram.
Guffey’s 17-year-old son, Gavin, died by suicide after he was victimized by an extortion group.
“They threatened the young man that if you don’t give us money, we’re going to expose these photos. He gave them money, but it wasn’t enough. They kept threatening, and he killed himself. They threatened Mr. Guffey and a son. These are bastards. By any known definition,” Graham said.
