Prosecutors in Virginia are investigating whether parent Meta’s social media platforms Facebook and Instagram facilitate and profit from the illegal sale of drugs, according to a report Saturday in the Wall Street Journal.
Led by Assistant US Attorney Randy Ramseyerthe investigation includes an investigation into whether Meta AFTER failed to adequately remove drug-related content from its platforms.
Citing documents and people familiar with the matter, the article notes that prosecutors had sent subpoenas in 2023 and asked questions as part of a criminal grand jury investigation.
Ramseyer, who previously researched Purdue Pharmamarketing of OxyContin, requested the calls. Ramseyer appeared in the Hulu miniseries “Dopesick,” about the opioid crisis in the US
The WSJ noted that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also assisting in the investigation. Meta maintains that it has policies against drug sales, removes such content, and cooperates with law enforcement and organizations dedicated to combating online drug sales.
“Selling illegal drugs is against our policies, and we are working to find and remove this content from our services,” a Meta spokesperson told the WSJ. “Meta proactively works with law enforcement to help combat the sale and distribution of illegal drugs.”
Meta’s President of International Affairs, Nick Cleggtold X on Friday that Meta has worked with the US State Department, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Snapchat to stop the sale of synthetic drugs online and educate users about the dangers.
“The opioid epidemic is a major public health issue that requires action from all segments of American society,” Clegg tweeted. “The opioid epidemic is a major public health issue that requires action from all parts of US society.”
In a related movement at the end of February, New York Governor Kathy Hochul and licensed dispensary owners blamed majors Meta and Alphabet Inc GOOG allegedly promoting unlicensed cannabis businesses.
Further complicating the issue is the recent rise of telehealth companies aggressively marketing prescription drugs on social media. Concerns have been raised about the misleading nature of some of these advertisements, potentially contributing to the misuse of controlled substances.
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Image credits: Rawpixel.com and Bukhta Yurii on Shutterstock Edited by Benzinga
