Musk slams Meta over reports Facebook and Instagram let sex trafficking violations reach 17 strikes before a ban

Elon Musk

Elon Musk has publicly criticised Meta after newly unsealed court documents suggested a stark difference in how Instagram and Facebook responded to policy violations. Responding on X, the Tesla chief highlighted allegations that serious offences linked to sex trafficking were given multiple chances, while other infractions resulted in immediate bans. Musk drew attention to a claim in the filings stating that misgendering a transgender person could lead to instant suspension, whereas trafficking-related violations reportedly received “17 strikes” before removal.

Lawsuit highlights alleged flaws in Instagram’s strike-based system

The allegations come from a lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Reports say the documents include testimony from Vaishnavi Jayakumar, Instagram’s former head of safety and well-being. She allegedly testified that Instagram allowed accounts to accumulate 16 violations related to prostitution or sexual solicitation before action was taken on the 17th strike. According to Jayakumar, this enforcement threshold was unusually high compared with industry norms.

More than 1,800 plaintiffs—including school districts, state attorneys general, and individuals—have joined the lawsuit. They claim Meta knew about the risks its platforms posed to minors. The filings assert that Meta was aware millions of adults were messaging children, and features like “Accounts You May Follow” sometimes recommended potentially unsafe profiles to teenage users.

Plaintiffs accuse Meta executives of blocking safety fixes

The lawsuit alleges that Meta repeatedly identified internal risks involving teen safety, platform addiction, and harmful interactions. Plaintiffs claim executives rejected proposals meant to reduce these harms because they feared losing engagement. According to the filings, these decisions contributed to what the plaintiffs describe as a “pattern of concealment” aimed at protecting Meta’s business metrics while downplaying dangers to young users.

Meta disputes allegations and calls reports misleading

Meta has denied the accusations, arguing that the claims rely on selective interpretations of documents. A spokesperson said the filings contain “cherry-picked” statements and do not reflect the company’s broader safety efforts. Meta insists it has made significant investments in parental controls, content moderation technology, and tools designed to protect teens.

While the lawsuit also names Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube, the alleged “17 strikes” enforcement policy has placed heightened scrutiny on Meta’s approach to handling severe safety violations,