Meta curbed research about VR safety risks to kids, whistleblowers say

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, is facing allegations from a group of current and former employees that it has restricted research into the potential negative impacts of its virtual reality (VR) offerings on kids and teenagers. The whistleblowers claim that after an earlier whistleblower, Frances Haugen, leaked internal research to Congress, Meta's lawyers began screening and sometimes vetoing research on VR and youth safety. However, Meta denies these allegations, stating that it has approved nearly 180 Reality Labs-related studies on social issues, including youth safety and well-being, since the start of 2022. The allegations are expected to be a central focus of an upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, where lawmakers will examine the whistleblower claims that Meta buried child safety research. Additionally, a former head of security at Meta-owned WhatsApp has filed a lawsuit accusing the company of ignoring privacy and security issues that endangered users' information. These allegations highlight the ongoing scrutiny and concerns surrounding the potential impact of social media and emerging technologies, particularly on vulnerable populations such as children and teenagers.