High Court orders Meta to shut down child pornographic accounts on Instagram and WhatsApp social media platforms

WHILE the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, on Monday evening ordered Meta to shut down several anonymous Instagram accounts and WhatsApp channels which are distributing explicit child pornography depicting South African school children, this had not yet been done by yesterday afternoon.

- ZELDA VENTER

Judge Mudunwazi Makamu also ruled that Meta had to, before noon yesterday, furnish The Digital Law Company (DLC) with all information in its possession pertaining to the creator(s) of the WhatsApp channels and Instagram profiles listed in the urgent application. Rorke Wilson of the DLC yesterday said as the matter was heard on Monday evening, the deadline for Meta to shut down the accounts and channels was set to be midnight on Monday.

“However, Meta has not complied with any of the demands and all the deadlines have passed,’ Wilson said, adding that they are now contemplating next steps.

The DLC turned to court on an extremely urgent basis, which was not opposed, when it became aware of the explicit content involving children on Instagram and WhatsApp.

Emma Sadleir Berkowitz, social media law expert and the founder of DLC, said in an affidavit that DLC was made aware of some social media accounts depicting shocking material relating to children on Friday.