Mark Zuckerberg testifies – YouTube screenshot
A bipartisan group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives has demanded answers from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding the rampant proliferation of illicit drug advertisements on the company’s platforms. In a letter sent on Thursday, lawmakers expressed deep concern over Meta’s apparent inability to prevent these illegal ads from appearing on its sites.
First Meta/Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram were investigated and sanctioned for violating the privacy of their users by not informing them that their personal information was being collected for marketing purposes. Then came the controversy around how Facebook did nothing to stop the proliferation of fake news on its platform, including misinformation that affected the outcome of the 2016 American Presidential elections. And Instagram was also investigated for doing nothing to deal with how the platform caused depression and mental anguish among youth; even though it had internal studies that revealed this was the case.
Now Meta/Facebook stands accused of helping to promote drug abuse. What Next? Helping an alien invasion?
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The letter included a list of 15 questions for Mark Zuckerberg to answer. The questions included “How many illicit drug advertisements has Meta discovered across its platforms?” and “How much revenue has Meta collected from these advertisements for illicit drugs across all platforms?”
“We write to express our deep concerns with recent reports of illicit drug advertisements on your platforms – Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.
The Representatives said they are “particularly concerned” about the impact these advertisements have on children and teenagers. They pointed out that in 2022, an average of 22 minors, ages 14 to 18, died in the U.S. each week from drug overdoses. This, the lawmakers explained, did not come as a result of an increase in illicit drug use; It happened because the contents of drugs became deadlier due to the influx of fentanyl into the United States. Fentanyl is often found in counterfeit oxycodone, benzodiazepines, and other prescription pills – all of which have been found on your platforms, including in advertisements.
“Time and time again we have heard from Meta that users come to your platforms because they like the personalization and experiences you provide, and you use sensitive personal information to direct such personalization through content and advertisements,” they wrote Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. “We in Congress, on multiple occasions, have worked to establish data privacy and security protections for Americans but have, in each instance, been met with friction and opposition from Meta with claims that we would drastically disrupt this personalization you are providing.”
