40% of online child sex crimes in the West Midlands taking place on Facebook owned apps
The NSPCC say nationally, more than half of incidents reported involved apps like Messenger, Whatsapp and Instagram.
Facebook’s apps were used in more than half of online child sex crimes nationally, new NSPCC data reveals as the charity calls on the Government to deliver meaningful change in the Online Safety Bill to tackle the biggest threat to children online.
In a single year, police recorded more than 9,360 instances where the platform was known in reports of child sex abuse image and online child sex offences - 52% of which took place on Facebook-owned apps.
In the 12 months between October 2019 and October 2020 police forces in the West Midlands recorded 1,532 online child sex crimes where the method of communication was known – 40% of these involved Facebook-owned apps.
The charity fears many of these could go unreported if Facebook proceeds with end-to-end encryption without necessary safeguards in place.
Andy Burrows, NSPCC Head of Child Safety Online Policy, said: “Facebook is willingly turning back the clock on children’s safety by pushing ahead with end-to-end encryption despite repeated warnings that their apps will facilitate more serious abuse more often.
“This underlines exactly why Oliver Dowden must introduce a truly landmark Online Safety Bill that makes sure child protection is no longer a choice for tech firms and resets industry standards in favour of children.
“If legislation is going to deliver meaningful change it needs to be strengthened to decisively tackle abuse in private messaging, one of the biggest threats to children online.”
Facebook says it's "building strong safety measures" into plans.