Prince Harry welcomes social media accountability
Published: 01/04/2026
| The Guardian
The Duke of Sussex has welcomed two landmark legal victories against Meta and YouTube, describing them as a long-awaited move toward truth and accountability. Speaking at the IAPP Global Summit 2026 in Washington DC, Prince Harry argued that these verdicts confirm that social media systems are built to exploit rather than protect users.
Prince Harry expressed concerns over the current technological model, citing issues such as state-sponsored surveillance, privacy violations, and the rise of AI-driven threats like non-consensual sexual images.
Reflecting on his own seven-year legal battle against UK media organisations for unlawful phone hacking, the Duke stated that challenging powerful institutions has come at a personal cost. However, he maintained that the effort is necessary to address the systemic influences shaping modern life. He questioned the future of data protection, specifically regarding the sale of children's data and the preservation of individual privacy against evolving technologies.
Additional reporting by IAPP.
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