Anamika Dey, editor
Brief news
- Republican Congressman Tim Walberg criticized Meta for inadequate responses to concerns about illicit drug ads on Facebook and Instagram, claiming the company ignored key inquiries from legislators.
- Meta’s Vice President acknowledged the opioid epidemic’s impact but defended the company’s policies against drug sales, stating they actively work to remove such content.
- Critics, including TTP Director Katie Paul, argue that Meta profits from drug-related ads, highlighting a lack of accountability and transparency in addressing the issue.
Detailed news
Meta was criticized by a Republican congressman on Thursday for its insufficient reply to issues regarding illicit drug advertisements on Facebook and Instagram.
Meta’s letter to a bipartisan group of legislators on Monday was deemed “unacceptable” by Michigan Representative Tim Walberg, who alleged that the company neglected to respond to the specific inquiries that the politicians had directed to CEO Mark Zuckerberg in August.
Meta was asked questions regarding recent reports from The Wall Street Journal and the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project (TTP) that disclosed an upsurge of Facebook and Instagram advertisements that directed users to third-party services where they could purchase prescription pills and recreational drugs such as cocaine. The legislators’ objective with the list of 15 queries was to ascertain the prevalence of illicit drug ads on Meta’s applications, the number of views and interactions the ads received, the number of minors who interacted with them, and the measures Meta has implemented against the responsible groups.
Walberg stated in a statement that Meta’s response not only disregards the majority of the inquiries raised in our letter, but also refuses to acknowledge that these illicit drug advertisements were authorized and monetized by Meta and permitted to appear on their platforms. “This is intolerable.” Meta must be held accountable for its negligence and the subsequent consequences for users, particularly children and adolescents.
Meta declined to provide a response.
Rachel Lieber, Meta Vice President of Global Legal Strategy, stated in her letter to legislators that the company echoes their apprehensions regarding the “public safety and health threat generated by the opioid epidemic.”
“We are aware that this issue has a significant impact on a significant number of Americans, frequently resulting in tragic consequences. Consequently, the fight against drug trafficking online is more significant than any single platform,” Lieber stated in the letter, which was obtained by CNBC. “At Meta, we are dedicated to contributing significantly to the resolution.”
Lieber elucidated in the letter that Meta’s policies “prohibit the buying and selling of illicit drugs across our apps” and that the company employs a variety of resources and measures to “detect and remove drug-related content that violates our policies.”
In a statement, TTP Director Katie Paul stated that Meta has “repeatedly avoided direct questions from members of Congress, the media, and the public” regarding the hundreds of ads for illicit substances on its platform.
“Meta endeavors to disavow responsibility and advocate for a “whole of society” perspective,” stated Paul. Meta is “generating revenue by providing paid amplification to drug trafficking websites that would not have the same level of visibility without Meta’s advertising platforms.”
In a live podcast recording in San Francisco, Zuckerberg stated that Meta should be more assertive “when people make allegations about the impact of the tech industry or our company” that are unfounded. Walberg’s comments follow this statement.
Zuckerberg expressed contrition at the event on Tuesday, stating, “I believe we accepted the perspective of others regarding certain actions they claimed we were guilty of or were responsible for, which I do not believe that we were.”
Source : CNBC News
