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Meta Probed By Federal Authorities Over Alleged Role In Online Drug Sales

By Nithya Bose in Business News, posted March 18, 2024

US Federal authorities are investigating Meta over its potential involvement in the illicit drug trade through Facebook and Instagram.

The investigation, led by US prosecutors in Virginia, used subpoenas to gather information on Meta's alleged role in the illegal drug market.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also participating.

This inquiry is looking to find out if Meta's platforms have facilitated or profited from unlawful drug transactions.

The investigation may not necessarily lead to formal accusations of misconduct.

“The opioid epidemic is a major public health issue that requires action from all parts of US society"

A Meta spokesperson said: “The sale of illicit drugs is against our policies and we work to find and remove this content from our services.

“Meta proactively cooperates with law enforcement authorities to help combat the sale and distribution of illicit drugs.”

Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said the company is participating in initiatives to disrupt online synthetic drug sales.

He added the company is also raising awareness about the opioid epidemic's risks.

In a tweet, he said: “The opioid epidemic is a major public health issue that requires action from all parts of US society,” he wrote in a tweet."

The company also engages external parties to review advertisers and content that might breach drug promotion and sale regulations.

For instance, LegitScript assists in vetting advertisers for prescription medication promotions.

Meta previously worked with the University of Alabama at Birmingham to identify problematic drug sale-related content.

This scrutiny of Meta is part of broader legislative and societal concerns regarding social media's impact on youth and the responsibility of tech companies for third-party content on their platforms.

There are existing protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

However, there are ongoing discussions about holding technology firms accountable for harmful content.

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Historically, the Justice Department has attempted to apply federal drug laws to online platforms used for illegal activities.

It’s seen in Google’s 2011 settlement for facilitating unlawful prescription drug imports.

The current probe into Meta involves requests for information from the Algorithmic Transparency Institute.

It also involves the examination of telehealth companies' aggressive advertising of prescription drugs on Meta’s platforms during the pandemic, which has been linked to substance abuse issues.

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