Tech giant Meta, which owns popular social media platforms Facebook and Instagram, is currently under investigation by federal authorities for its potential role in facilitating or profiting from drug sales on its platforms. The investigation, reported by The Wall Street Journal, involves federal authorities in Virginia requesting company records from Meta regarding "violative drug content on Meta’s platforms and/or the illicit sale of drugs via Meta’s platforms."
Meta has stated that the sale of illicit drugs goes against its policies, and the company works to find and remove such content from its services. They also claim to proactively cooperate with law enforcement authorities to combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs.
In response to the issue of online drug trafficking, Meta has collaborated with other technology companies, such as Snap, to identify and remove illicit drug-related content and activity. This collaboration aims to prevent bad actors from causing harm online and to share information across platforms to combat drug trafficking.
The United States government, through Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, has also announced a collaborative campaign with social media companies, including Meta, to combat online drug trafficking. This effort was highlighted during the 67th Session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
Overall, the investigation into Meta's potential role in drug sales on its platforms underscores the challenges faced by online social platforms in policing illegal activities. Meta's cooperation with law enforcement and other technology companies reflects an effort to address these issues and prevent the spread of illicit substances online.