Parents of Teen Sextortion Victim Sue Meta

The parents of 16-year-old Murray Dowey, who tragically took his own life after being targeted by online predators on Instagram, have filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Meta. This legal action, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, seeks to hold the tech giant accountable for its role in their son's death.

Murray, from Dunblane, Scotland, became a victim of sextortion in December 2023 when scammers, posing as a young girl, manipulated him into sending intimate images. The criminals, who were believed to be operating from West Africa, then blackmailed him, threatening to release the photos unless he paid them. The devastating consequences of this online extortion led to Murray taking his own life just hours after the interaction.

Murray’s parents, Ros and Mark Dowey, have joined forces with other families affected by similar tragedies, filing their case in Delaware's Superior Court with the help of the Social Media Victims Law Center (SMVLC). The lawsuit claims that Meta's failure to implement safety features for young users, despite being aware of the dangers, was a major contributing factor in Murray's death.

The lawsuit alleges that Instagram's design choices—especially its recommendation algorithms—allowed predators to target vulnerable teens. The Doweys' lawyers argue that Meta prioritized engagement and profit over the safety of its youngest users, despite knowing the risks. "It’s time social media companies took accountability for what they’ve done to our young people," said Ros Dowey, who has spoken out publicly about the tragic loss of her son.

Meta has responded to the allegations, stating that it has been actively working to combat online predators and protect users, especially teens. The company points to recent updates, such as automatically placing new teen accounts in private mode and blurring sensitive images sent in direct messages, as evidence of its efforts to protect younger users. However, the Doweys argue that these measures came too late for their son, and that earlier warnings from safety experts within Meta were ignored in favor of maintaining engagement levels on the platform.

Mark Dowey expressed his anger and frustration, emphasizing that Meta could have taken steps to prevent Murray's tragedy but chose not to. "They could have fixed this. They put money before kids' lives… Murray got caught up in it, and unfortunately, he’s gone," he said.

The lawsuit also cites internal documents from Meta that reveal concerns about adult-minor interactions on Instagram. These documents suggest that the company was aware of the risks as far back as 2018 but chose not to act, and claim Meta's focus on retaining users and maximizing engagement led to decisions that allowed adults to connect with minors, making it easier for predators to exploit young people.

In addition to the Doweys, the lawsuit includes the case of 13-year-old Levi Maciejewski from Pennsylvania, who also died after falling victim to sextortion. These legal actions are part of a growing movement to hold social media companies accountable for the harm their platforms cause, particularly to vulnerable users like children and teens.

Sextortion, where intimate images are used for blackmail, is a crime that has become increasingly common, with organized criminal gangs often behind the attacks. The Internet Watch Foundation has reported a sharp rise in sextortion cases, with boys being the primary victims. Experts say these crimes often go unreported due to the shame and fear felt by victims, making it all the more critical for social media companies to do more to protect young users.

The Doweys are not just seeking justice for their son—they want to raise awareness about the dangers of sextortion and push for stronger protections for children online. "You think your kids are safe looking at pictures on Instagram and they’re not," said Ros Dowey. "We have to fight for accountability."

Meta has stated that it "supports law enforcement to prosecute the criminals behind sextortion" and continues to take steps to protect its users. The company also emphasized that it has made significant changes, such as the introduction of Teen Accounts with built-in safety features and efforts to prevent suspicious accounts from interacting with minors. However, critics argue these changes are insufficient and come too late for victims like Murray.

As the lawsuit unfolds, it is clear that this case is about more than just one family’s grief—it is about holding the tech industry accountable for the safety of its most vulnerable users and ensuring that future tragedies can be prevented.

The legal action against Meta is a crucial step in the ongoing battle for safer social media platforms, and it has the potential to set a precedent for how tech companies are held responsible for the harm caused by their platforms.