Instagram gets protection against nudes in DMs to fight sextortion

Meta introduced new tools on Instagram to fight against sextortion and the abuse of intimate images. To develop these tools, Meta collaborated with experts with experience in the fight against these crimes.

Protect against sextortion and abuse of the intimate image

They worked to understand how online scammers operate and to create effective methods to stop them. These tools aim to protect people from sextortion and abuse of intimate images, making it harder for scammers to target potential victims.

Meta is also testing measures to help young people recognize and protect themselves from these scams. They implemented measures such as stricter message settings for teens and security warnings for potential scam accounts.

Nudity protection in Instagram DMs

In response to the growing threat of sextortion, Meta is rolling out a new feature in Instagram Direct Messages (DMs) aimed at protecting users from unwanted exposure to explicit content.

This feature automatically blurs images that contain nudity, giving users the option to view or block them. Key features include:

• Automatic activation: Nudity protection is enabled by default for users under 18 worldwide, and adults are encouraged to enable it.

• Safety notifications: Users who send or receive explicit images are reminded to exercise caution, with the option to retract the messages.

• Recipient Safeguards: Recipients of explicit images are protected from immediate exposure, with the ability to block senders and report abuse.

• Educational Resources: Users are directed to safety tips and support resources to improve awareness and protection against sextortion.

Preventing potential scammers from connecting with teenagers

Meta is stepping up efforts to stop scammers trying to exploit teenagers through sextortion schemes. Improved measures include:

• Account Tracking: Quick action is taken against accounts that engage in sextortion, including removal and prevention of reactivation.
• Signal Identification: Advanced technology is being developed to detect accounts that may be involved in sextortion activities, minimizing their interaction with teen users.
• Message Request Management: Messages from suspicious accounts are sent to a hidden folder, reducing exposure to harmful content.
• Teen Protection: Stricter default messages for teens under 16 ensure they can only be contacted by existing connections, with additional measures to limit interaction with potential scammers.

New resources for scam victims

Meta is releasing additional support resources for people who may have encountered sextortion scams, including:

• Pop-up messages: Users who interact with deleted accounts are directed to expert-backed resources for help.
• In-App Helplines: The integration of global child safety helplines enables quick access to support when reporting relevant issues.

Fighting Internet Sextortion Scams

Meta is collaborating with industry partners through initiatives like Lantern to combat sextortion scams beyond Instagram. Key actions include:

• Information Sharing: Sharing specific sextortion signals through Lantern facilitates cross-platform cooperation to mitigate online exploitation.

Overall, Meta's new tools and initiatives aim to protect users from sextortion and abuse of intimate images, empower young people to recognize and prevent scams, and encourage cooperation to fight online exploitation.

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