A group of 19 Congress members is calling out Meta for allowing drug ads on Facebook and Instagram. The tech giant faces scrutiny over its ad moderation policies after a report exposes the issue.
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| Lawmakers are slamming Meta for allowing drug ads to flourish on Facebook and Instagram. The company's ad moderation system is under scrutiny following a shocking report. |
NY, USA, August 16, 2024:
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is facing mounting pressure from US lawmakers over the proliferation of drug-related ads on its platforms. A group of 19 Congress members has penned a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg demanding answers about how hundreds of ads promoting cocaine, ecstasy, and other illicit substances managed to slip through the company's ad review process.
The lawmakers' concerns are fueled by a recent report from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) which uncovered a staggering number of drug-related ads on Facebook and Instagram. These ads, often featuring explicit images and descriptions of drugs, were easily discoverable through Meta's own ad library. The TTP's findings suggest a significant failure in Meta's ad moderation systems.
The lawmakers are demanding detailed information about Meta's policies and procedures for detecting and removing drug-related ads, as well as data on the reach and engagement of these illicit advertisements. With a looming September 6 deadline, Meta is now under scrutiny to explain how such a blatant violation of its own community guidelines could occur.
While Meta has acknowledged the issue and claimed to have rejected hundreds of thousands of drug-related ads, the persistence of these illicit advertisements raises serious questions about the company's commitment to platform safety and its ability to effectively enforce its own policies.
This controversy highlights the ongoing challenges faced by social media platforms in combating the misuse of their platforms for illegal activities. As regulators and lawmakers increase their scrutiny, Meta will need to demonstrate a more robust approach to ad moderation to protect users and maintain public trust.