Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has come under fire from Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) for its perceived lack of transparency and accountability regarding illicit drug advertisements on its platforms. The congressman expressed his disappointment with the company’s response to a bipartisan group of lawmakers’ concerns, which were raised in a letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg in August.
The lawmakers’ inquiry was prompted by recent reports from the Wall Street Journal and the Tech Transparency Project, which revealed that a significant number of ads on Facebook and Instagram were directing users to third-party services where they could purchase prescription pills and recreational drugs, including cocaine. The lawmakers sought to understand the scope of the issue, including the number of views and interactions these ads received, how many minors engaged with them, and the actions Meta has taken against the responsible parties.
Rep. Walberg criticized Meta’s response, stating that the company failed to address the specific questions posed by the lawmakers and refused to acknowledge its role in allowing these illicit ads to run on its platforms. He emphasized that Meta must take responsibility for its negligence and the impact it has on users, particularly children and teens.
Meta’s Vice President of Global Strategy, Rachel Lieber, responded to the lawmakers, acknowledging their concerns about the public health threat posed by the opioid epidemic. However, she emphasized that addressing this issue is a complex problem that extends beyond any single platform and that Meta is committed to playing a significant role in finding a solution.
Lieber also highlighted Meta’s policies, which strictly prohibit the buying and selling of illicit drugs across its apps. However, critics argue that Meta’s response does not address the fact that the company profits from providing paid amplification to drug trafficking sites, which would not have the same reach without Meta’s platforms.
