According to reports from the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, US prosecutors in Virginia are investigating whether Meta, the parent company of Facebook, facilitated and profited from the illegal sale of drugs through its social media platforms.
The investigation, which involves subpoenas issued last year and inquiries made as part of a criminal grand jury probe, focuses on determining whether Meta’s platforms were used for the unlawful sale of drugs. Prosecutors have been seeking records related to drug content and any illicit drug sales conducted via Meta’s platforms.
Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been assisting in the investigation, although it’s noted that such inquiries do not always result in charges.
A Meta spokesperson stated, “The sale of illicit drugs is against our policies, and we work to find and remove this content from our services.” The spokesperson further noted Meta’s proactive cooperation with law enforcement authorities in combating the sale and distribution of illicit drugs.
Neither the prosecutors’ office nor a spokesperson for the FDA commented on the matter to WSJ.
Meta, the FDA, and the Virginia Attorney General’s office have not immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters.
In related efforts, Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, announced on the social media platform X on Friday that Meta, along with the US State Department, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and Snapchat, has partnered to disrupt the online sale of synthetic drugs and raise awareness among users about associated risks.
