The US is investigating Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram. Law enforcement officials are checking the role of the platforms in drug trafficking. The Wall Street Journal writes about this with reference to documents and people in the know, UNN reports.
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Prosecutors in Virginia are sending out subpoenas and asking questions as part of a criminal investigation to find out whether Facebook and Instagram are facilitating and profiting from the illegal sale of drugs.
According to copies of the subpoenas, prosecutors demanded documents related to "drug content" on Meta platforms. The subpoenas were delivered last year, but it has only just become known.
The US Food and Drug Administration is assisting in the investigation. Meta has denied the allegations, saying that selling illegal drugs is against company policy.
We are working to identify and remove this content from our services. Meta actively cooperates with law enforcement to help fight the sale and distribution of illegal drugs
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Recently, Meta's President of Global Affairs Nick Clegg said that the company will work with the State Department to curb the sale of synthetic drugs online and educate users about the risks: "The opioid epidemic is a serious public health problem that requires action from all parts of American society.
Meta has engaged third-party organizations to screen advertisers and content that may violate regulations on drug advertising and sales. A company called LegitScript helps determine which companies can advertise prescription drugs on Meta's platforms.
The WSJ notes that during the pandemic, Facebook and Instagram were flooded with ads for prescription drugs to supposedly treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and other conditions. Employees and patients said the ads encouraged substance abuse.
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