Lawmakers Concerned About Drug Ads on Meta Platforms

A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers has expressed serious concerns to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding the company's failure to prevent illicit drug advertisements on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram. In a letter sent on Thursday, the lawmakers referenced alarming reports from The Wall Street Journal and the Tech Transparency Project, which revealed a significant number of ads directing users to purchase illegal drugs, including prescription pills and cocaine. The lawmakers highlighted that these ads were not only prevalent but also approved and monetized by Meta, raising questions about the effectiveness of the company's internal content moderation processes. The letter, signed by 19 members of Congress, noted that despite ongoing investigations by U.S. federal prosecutors into Meta's role in facilitating drug sales, the company has not adequately addressed the issue. The lawmakers pointed out that the ads were easily accessible and contained explicit references to illegal substances, contradicting Meta's claims of robust enforcement against such content. They criticized the company for its lack of responsiveness and transparency regarding data privacy and security protections. In their correspondence, the lawmakers included a list of 15 questions aimed at uncovering how Meta plans to tackle the problem of illicit drug advertisements and requested a response by September 6. Meta acknowledged receipt of the letter and reiterated its commitment to combating illegal drug activity on its platforms, stating that it collaborates with law enforcement and continuously invests in improving its enforcement measures. The situation underscores the ongoing challenges social media companies face in regulating content on their platforms, particularly concerning illegal activities, and raises broader questions about accountability and user safety in the digital age.