Walters requests Twitter CEO provide answers about Periscope monitoring

U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) this week said she remains deeply concerned about Twitter’s reliance on user abuse reports, which don’t sufficiently block inappropriate broadcasts on Periscope, the online social networking service company’s live video streaming app for Android and iOS.

“Twitter’s Periscope app is reportedly used to exploit children, some as young as nine years old,” Rep. Walters said on Oct. 29. “Twitter must take immediate action to improve its Periscope monitoring efforts in order to eliminate child exploitation on its platform.”

Rep. Walters also said that all internet companies, including social media platforms like Twitter, should prioritize the protection of children from online predators.

“I look forward to Twitter’s prompt response to these urgent questions as I continue my work to protect children,” said the congresswoman, referring to an Oct. 26 letter she sent to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey requesting answers to the company’s related policies.

The letter is a follow up to questions Rep. Walters asked Dorsey during a Sept. 5 hearing held by the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee entitled, Twitter: Transparency and Accountability.

During the hearing, Walters questioned the CEO about Twitter’s policy toward online child exploitation, as well as any actions to combat the problem.

At the time, Dorsey assured members of Congress that Twitter would enhance monitoring on Periscope, but Rep. Walters sent her follow-up letter to express her concern that “children remain at risk.”

“I commend Twitter’s stated zero tolerance policy for sexual exploitation of children and your efforts to make Twitter a safer online platform,” Rep. Walters wrote. “I am now seeking answers to better understand Twitter’s policies and how we can make Twitter a safer online environment in our shared responsibility to protect children.”

Specifically, the lawmaker wants Dorsey’s responses to questions regarding Periscope broadcasts, including answers around how many live broadcasts Twitter has removed from the app for sexual exploitation of children; how many of those broadcasts were private Periscope broadcasts and if there is an increased risk for sexual exploitation of children during private broadcasts; a timeline for implementing Periscope monitoring improvements; and if such exploitation in private Periscope broadcasts increases due to the lack of user reporting in such a non-public forum, among other questions.

Rep. Walters requested Dorsey’s responses by Nov. 19.