Attorney General Kris Mayes has taken aim at social media companies with a new webpage designed to expose their role in fostering illegal activities, as reported by the Arizona Attorney General's office.
"For too long, social media companies have turned a blind eye to how their platforms are used by drug traffickers—especially to target young people," Mayes stated, emphasizing her commitment to holding these entities publicly responsible. The Attorney General's office outlines the alarming statistics: a National Institute of Health study indicated that up to 13% of social media posts in 2023 were connected to illicit drug sales, with the National Crime Prevention Council attributing 80% of teen and young adult fentanyl poisoning deaths to social media involvement.
Mayes' focused spotlight on social media platforms arises in the aftermath of revelations that these networks are not only communities for sharing life's moments but also stages for drug trafficking, gang violence, scams, and human trafficking, instances of such misuse are exemplified by seven indictments already listed on the webpage, involving major platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Telegram, as per the Arizona Attorney General's announcement.
The webpage's launch comes despite the poise of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields these companies from liability for third-party actions, yet the office of the Attorney General enthusiasms on, pairing with local, state and federal agencies, they have since 2022 confiscated over 25 million fentanyl pills and 405 pounds of fentanyl powder in Arizona. The efforts Mayes has demonstrated in her stance against these tech giants are not a new endeavor; in 2023, she joined other states in legal pursuits against Meta Platforms, Inc. for alleged consumer protection law breaches. Mayes also recently advocated for stronger safeguards against scammers on social media.
