A group of federal lawmakers from both sides of the aisle recently sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressing their deep concern regarding the company’s failure to prevent illicit drug advertisements from proliferating on its platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project, a flood of advertisements on Meta’s platforms have been found to direct users to third-party services where they can purchase prescription pills, cocaine, and other recreational drugs. This discovery has raised serious red flags for lawmakers.
The lawmakers highlighted a report from March 16, 2024, by The Wall Street Journal, which revealed that U.S. federal prosecutors have been investigating Meta for allegedly facilitating the sale of illicit drugs. Despite this ongoing investigation, Meta was found to still be running ads on its platforms that lead users to online marketplaces for illegal drugs.
The most troubling aspect of this situation is that Meta appears to be turning a blind eye to these illicit drug advertisements, even in the face of a federal investigation. The ads were reportedly approved and monetized by Meta, and were easily discoverable by media outlets and researchers. This lack of oversight raises serious questions about Meta’s internal processes for monitoring and removing harmful content.
The lawmakers voiced their frustration with Meta’s response to concerns about data privacy and security, noting that the company has been resistant to implementing necessary safeguards. They sent Zuckerberg a list of 15 questions seeking more information about Meta’s efforts to address the illicit drug ad problem and requested a response by Sept. 6.
The prevalence of illicit drug advertisements on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram is a serious issue that requires immediate attention. The fact that Meta has been allegedly facilitating the sale of illegal drugs while failing to effectively address the problem is deeply concerning. Lawmakers are calling for greater accountability and transparency from Meta to ensure the safety and well-being of users on its platforms.