Meta Accused of Abandoning Hacking Victims, Straining Law Enforcement

State Attorneys General Demand Immediate Action from Meta to Address Skyrocketing Account Takeovers

A coalition of 41 state attorneys general, led by New York’s Letitia James, has sent a letter to Meta‘s chief legal officer, Jennifer Newstead, urging the company to take swift action to address the alarming increase in user account thefts across the United States. The attorneys general assert that the surge in account takeovers is placing a significant strain on government resources, as many of these stolen accounts are linked to financial crimes, some of which allegedly benefit Meta directly.

Complaints of Fraudulent Charges and Unauthorized Advertisements

The letter highlights numerous complaints received by the attorneys general, including instances of threat actors fraudulently charging thousands of dollars to stored credit cards and purchasing advertisements to run on Meta’s platforms. The officials express their frustration, stating,

“We refuse to operate as the customer service representatives of your company. Proper investment in response and mitigation is mandatory.”

Widespread Support from State Attorneys General

In addition to New York, the letter has garnered support from attorneys general representing a wide range of states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia.

Meta’s Response and Commitment to User Protection

In response to the letter, Meta spokesperson Erin McPike provided a statement emphasizing the company’s dedication to user protection. Meta claims to invest heavily in trained enforcement and review teams, utilizing specialized detection tools to identify compromised accounts and fraudulent activity. The company also states that it regularly shares tips and tools for users to protect themselves, provides a means to report potential violations, collaborates with law enforcement, and takes legal action when necessary.

Potential Causes and Recent Layoffs

Account takeovers can occur due to various factors, including data breaches, phishing scams, and weak passwords. The attorneys general’s letter comes in the wake of Meta’s significant layoffs in November 2022, which affected approximately 13 percent of its workforce, or roughly 11,000 employees.

Update 3/6/2024, 11:15 am EST: Added statement from Meta.