Prince Harry addressed tech companies on Tuesday, calling for greater transparency regarding child safety online, during his first public appearance alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, since her father's arrest.
Speaking at the European Parliament in Brussels, Harry urged technology firms to implement policies that prevent children from being exposed to harmful content. He also advocated for increased parental access to children's devices and social media accounts, allowing them to understand online experiences and potential harm.
"For many parents, even though their child killed themselves, they’ve had to wait years – in some instances, eight years – to get access to their child’s phone," Harry stated. "Because of the company’s privacy policies, the parents were blocked from finding out how their child died. That cannot be right."
The event marked the opening of The Lost Screen Memorial, an installation featuring replicas of smartphones dedicated to children who have died as a result of harm suffered on social media. Each replica displays a photo of a deceased child on its home screen.
Meghan, also known as the Duchess of Sussex, was initially slated to speak at the event but withdrew, with a source close to her explaining she was not "strong enough emotionally." She accompanied her husband to the ceremony.
The appearance comes after allegations surfaced last month concerning Meghan's father, Thomas Markle Sr. The 82-year-old appeared in a Florida courtroom on Friday facing charges of possessing child sexual abuse material. He has previously denied the allegations, calling them "sick lies."