Meta, Google remove Iran's matchmaking app after child marriage report
Summary
Meta and Google have taken action to remove Iran's "Adam and Eve" matchmaking app and its related promotional accounts after an investigation by the U.S.-based rights group HRANA revealed that girls as young as 13 were being listed as potential spouses. This decision came in response to a joint appeal from 24 civil society groups, urging the companies to strengthen protections against services facilitating underage marriage. Both Meta and Google cited violations of their policies against child exploitation as the reason for the app's removal, highlighting their commitment to combatting such issues on their platforms.
Analysis
Meta: Meta operates major social media and digital platforms including Facebook and Instagram. In this case, Meta removed the Adam and Eve matchmaking app and associated promotional accounts after an investigation confirmed links to underage marriage services. A company spokesperson emphasized aggressive efforts to combat child exploitation both on and off its platforms. HRANA: HRANA is a US-based human rights organization focused on monitoring and reporting issues in Iran. It conducted the October 8 investigation into the Adam and Eve app and coordinated a joint appeal from 24 civil society groups that led to the platform removals by Meta and Google. Google: Google manages the Google Play app store and related digital services. Google removed the Adam and Eve app from its store on October 9 after determining it violated company policies. The action followed an investigation prompted by reports from HRANA and civil society appeals. Mohammad-Hossein Asghari: Mohammad-Hossein Asghari serves as executive manager of the Adam and Eve matchmaking platform. He publicly defended the service's acceptance of users meeting Iran's statutory marriage ages following earlier media scrutiny of child profiles on the app. Platform Policies: Meta and Google maintain strict policies against services that facilitate child exploitation and underage marriage, leading to rapid removal of the identified app following external reports. Civil Society Action: A coordinated appeal by multiple human rights and civil society groups directly contributed to the companies' decisions to remove the matchmaking service and related accounts.
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