Instagram’s upcoming features aim to tackle the alarming rise of sextortion, offering vital protection for young users and victims of this heinous crime.
Instagram is gearing up to launch new tools within a few weeks to combat the pervasive threat of sextortion, a form of blackmail that preys on individuals through intimate images shared online. These upcoming features include a “nudity protection” tool, which will automatically blur explicit images in direct messages, set to be activated by default for users under the age of 18.
The platform will also introduce pop-ups that guide potential victims towards support resources, recognizing the urgent need to address the escalating danger posed by sextortion worldwide. Governments and law enforcement agencies have sounded alarms about the growing risk faced by young people, particularly in the digital realm where such crimes can easily occur.
Sextortion typically unfolds with victims receiving a nude photo and then being coerced into reciprocating with their own explicit images, only to face threats of public exposure unless they comply with the blackmailer’s demands. Tragically, cases like these have led to devastating outcomes, including suicides linked directly to the trauma inflicted by sextortion.
In a recent legal development, two individuals from Nigeria pleaded guilty to sexually exploiting teenage boys and young men in the United States, underscoring the international nature of this crime. Instagram acknowledges the severity of sextortion, particularly when orchestrated by sophisticated criminal syndicates seeking financial gain.
The platform’s nudity protection system, initially unveiled in January, relies on artificial intelligence (AI) that operates entirely on the user’s device to detect and blur nude images in direct messages. This innovative approach not only shields users from unwanted explicit content but also safeguards them against scams that manipulate individuals into sharing their own sensitive images.
Instagram emphasizes that this system, although opt-in for adults, does not automatically report explicit content to the company. Instead, users are empowered with options to block and report accounts if they encounter suspicious or harmful behavior. Additionally, when the nudity protection system identifies naked images being sent, users will receive prompts to access safety tips, including reminders about the potential risks of image forwarding and screenshotting without consent.
The introduction of these new tools marks a crucial step in Instagram’s ongoing efforts to combat sextortion and protect its users, particularly the most vulnerable demographics, from falling victim to this egregious form of online exploitation.