Landmark agreement with Meta to combat child exploitation in South Africa

In a groundbreaking legal victory, the Digital Law Co (DLC) has secured an order in which Meta agreed to cooperate in the fight against child porn on its sites.

Over the past two weeks, Emma Sadleir and her team fought a fierce legal battle against Meta, the parent company of Instagram and WhatsApp, in a bid to have disturbing posts of children removed from public sites.

In the latest turn of events, DLC has secured a consent order, issued in the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, in which Meta has agreed to work closely with DLC.

This case arose in response to the widespread circulation of sexually exploitative material involving South African schoolchildren on Meta-owned platforms.

Meta had agreed to permanently remove, as far as is technically feasible, all Instagram accounts and WhatsApp Channels reported by DLC to them on behalf of victims, thereby cutting off public access to this deeply harmful material.

The digital giant also agreed to disclose subscriber information for over 60 offending accounts across both platforms, enabling victims and their families to pursue justice through appropriate legal avenues.

It will further establish a direct two-year hotline between The Digital Law Co and Meta to fast-track urgent child protection matters and ensure that future reports do not fall through the cracks.

Sadleir responded that this is a powerful affirmation of what can be achieved when the law is used not only as a shield, but as a sword in defence of the most vulnerable.

“We believe this is the first time in South African legal history that a global tech giant has agreed, in writing and court, to these kinds of terms. We hope it signals a turning point in how platforms respond to harm within our jurisdiction,” Sadleir said.

“The work is not done. Technology evolves. Harms migrate. But we have taken a stand - and we believe South Africa is safer for it,” Sadleir said.

Rorke Wilson of DLC, meanwhile, said part of the earlier court order has been complied with, as Meta has sent some details of the offending accounts, and more are expected to be sent on Wednesday.

The hotline has also been very responsive, as some accounts have been taken down quickly. Rorke said from what they have seen, the person or persons who are behind these offending posts seem to have the wind taken out of their sails as these accounts are now cut before they're able to grow too big.

Cape Times