Meta Under Scrutiny for Potential Role in Illicit Drug Sales
Federal Prosecutors Investigate Social Media Giant’s Platforms
According to confidential sources cited in a Wall Street Journal report, federal prosecutors are investigating whether Meta‘s social media platforms are enabling and profiting from the illegal sale of drugs. The prosecutors reportedly issued subpoenas to Meta last year, requesting records related to “violative drug content on Meta’s platforms and/or the illicit sale of drugs via Meta’s platforms.”
Meta’s Response and Cooperation with Law Enforcement
In a statement to the Journal, a Meta spokesperson emphasized the company’s stance against illicit drug sales:
The sale of illicit drugs is against our policies and we work to find and remove this content from our services. Meta proactively cooperates with law enforcement authorities to help combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs.
TikTok’s Silence and Researchers’ Subpoena
The WSJ reported that TikTok did not respond to inquiries about whether it had received similar subpoenas. Additionally, researchers who gathered data on prescription drug ads on Facebook for the Journal in 2022 revealed that they had also been subpoenaed.
Meta Joins Alliance to Prevent Drug Harms
On Friday, Meta’s president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, announced the company’s participation in the Alliance to Prevent Drug Harms. This announcement coincides with a statement from US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs session, revealing a new collaborative effort between the US, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Meta, Snap, and other entities to disrupt online synthetic drug activity.
Ongoing Efforts to Combat Illicit Drug Sales Online
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Meta and other social media platforms will address the challenges posed by illicit drug sales on their platforms. The collaboration between government agencies, international organizations, and tech companies may prove crucial in developing effective strategies to combat this issue and protect public health.
4 Comments
Wouldn’t be the first time Meta’s caught in a controversy, but illegal drugs? That’s a new low, even for them.
Big Tech getting a slap on the wrist again, or will this actually lead to change
Meta’s tangled in another mess—wonder if they’ll navigate out with just a scratch this time or finally face real consequences.
Big Tech in hot water for drug sales on their platform, who saw that coming