Blackburn and Blumenthal demand answers from Pinterest over ‘sex-themed’ image boards of minors

LAwmakers are intensifying their efforts to hold social media After a report revealed that one company was using its platform to create images boards that exploited young girls, it called for companies to be held accountable.

Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), sent a Letter On Tuesday, Bill Ready, the CEO of Pinterest, demanded answers from his company following an NBC News investigation that revealed how people can create sexy images boards for young girls.

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Pinterest stated that they had increased the number of human content moderators after the investigation and created new features that allow users report content and accounts for various types of violations. “nudity, pornography, or sexualized content,” Also, include “intentional misuse involving minors.”

Blumenthal, Blackburn however demanded to know the reason those tools weren’t available before the outlet’s probe. The senators cited previous pledges Pinterest made to youth privacy and mental health in a letter. This was both in terms of content reporting mechanisms, age assurance practices, and during meetings with congressional staff.

“This report is particularly disappointing given that Pinterest has branded itself the ‘last positive corner of the internet,'” The senators wrote. “Unfortunately, according to the issues found in the report, Pinterest has fallen short of these aspirations.”

Users can now report violations “nudity, pornography or sexualized content,” Also, include “intentional misuse involving minors.” Boards could not have been flagged previously for anything. Individual accounts could only be reported. “spam” And “inappropriate cover image.”

Individual photos and videos showing young girls wearing bathing suits, leotards or similar clothing were put together in a public board titled “Sexy little girls,” “delicious,” “hot,” And “young girls,” NBC News Discovered.

“It should not have taken national media coverage of such graphic misuse targeting young children to prompt action,” The senators also added.

Blackburn and Blumenthal questioned Pinterest about how they manage potential contact between minors, adults, and to what degree adults can message or follow children.

“Pinterest apparently took little to no action to prevent adult men from posting sexually suggestive comments on minors’ photos and messaging them directly,” The senators wrote.

The bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by the senators Kids Online Safety ActIt would make platforms turn off all privacy features that are used by underage users automatically. After being presented in the final months, the Senate did not approve it.

“As the authors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act, we believe that the social media platforms have profound moral and social obligations to protect children and teens from mental health risks, sexual exploitation, and other harms,” The senators wrote.

Ready was sent eight questions and they requested that responses be received by April 4. Senators wanted to know if Pinterest had an audit done or conducted an internal review regarding the removal of child abuse material and sex trafficking of children. They also asked whether moderators were in-house or working through a third party.

The FBI reported that at least 3000 minors, mostly young boys, were victims of sextortion in December 2022. Over 7,000 reports had been received by law enforcement agencies about financial sextortion of minors. This contributed to more than a dozen suicides.

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The White House expressed support for stronger online safety measures to protect children in the past. Biden addressed the nation during the State of the Union speech. He would encourage social media companies to protect teenagers’ data and ban targeted ads towards minors.

“Platforms and other interactive digital service providers should be required to prioritize the privacy and wellbeing of young people above profit and revenue in their product design, including safety by design standards and practices for online platforms, products, and services,” According to the White House,