October 29, 2018
Press Release
October 29, 2018
Contact: T.W. Arrighi
(202) 225-5611

Rep. Mimi Walters Seeks Answers Regarding Sexual Exploitation of Children on Periscope

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mimi Walters (R-California) released the following statement regarding a letter sent to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey requesting answers about the company’s policies to protect children on its platforms.  Earlier this year, media reports detailed the exploitation of children through live online broadcast apps, including Twitter’s Periscope.

On September 5, 2018, Rep. Walters questioned Mr. Dorsey regarding Twitter’s stated “zero tolerance policy” toward child exploitation, and additional actions necessary to combat this problem.  Rep. Walters remains deeply concerned about Twitter’s reliance on user abuse reports, which are insufficient to block inappropriate Periscope broadcasts, particularly private broadcasts.

While Mr. Dorsey assured Congress that Twitter would increase monitoring procedures on Periscope, Rep. Walters’ letter follows up on the critical areas in need of improvement.  Read the full letter here.

Said Congresswoman Walters, “Protecting our children from online predators must be a top priority for all Internet companies, including social media platforms.  Twitter’s Periscope app is reportedly used to exploit children, some as young as nine years old.  Twitter must take immediate action to improve its Periscope monitoring efforts in order to eliminate child exploitation on its platform.  I look forward to Twitter’s prompt response to these urgent questions as I continue my work to protect children.”

Walters represents California’s 45th District and serves on the House Energy & Commerce and House Ethics Committees.