The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has reportedly written to the UK government asking for it to intervene, after Facebook repeatedly showed what has been deemed an upsetting and inappropriate video of a young child.
The video in question shows a “terrified, sobbing baby” being repeatedly dunked into a bucket of water, and has been shared worldwide on the social media site. When Facebook administration was contacted about taking the video down, they refused on the grounds that the video doesn’t breach their rules.
Now, the NSPCC has taken the matter to the UK government in the hope that it will be able to intervene.
NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless wrote: “While the welfare of this child is naturally paramount, we would also urge you to look at all available options which will ensure UK citizens, including millions of children, are no longer exposed to this kind of dreadful and disturbing content.”
“The NSPCC believes we have now reached the long overdue point where it is time for social networking sites to be held accountable for the content on their sites and pay more attention to their safeguarding duties to protect children and young people, whether they are viewing the content or appearing in it,” he added.
While Facebook representatives admitted that the video’s content was “upsetting and disturbing”, they insisted that they are raising awareness over such cruelty.
